GNRC Secretary General Dr. Mustafa Y. Ali joined the United Nations Commission on the Rights of the Child (UN CRC) in expressing grave concern over the indiscriminate chemical attacks in Syria that also killed many children. Speaking at the GNRC Secretariat in Nairobi, the GNRC Secretary General asked all parties in the Syrian conflict to protect all children in the ongoing violence that has engulfed the country.

Here are a few excerpts from the UN CRC statement:

“This atrocity is a gross violation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child,” said Committee Chairperson Kirsten Sandberg. “It is a shocking example of how children’s rights are being violated as the Syrian conflict deepens, first and foremost the right to life.”

“Whoever committed these killings, as well as all those responsible for other crimes committed against Syrian children, should be held accountable,” said Ms Sandberg on behalf of the Committee.

The Convention on the Rights of the Child applies at all times, Ms Sandberg said, highlighting that more than 7,000 children have been killed since the beginning of the conflict, and many more injured.

“The Committee joins the call by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to all parties in the conflict to stop targeting civilians,” she added.

Further details on the statement can be found here.