United Nations Radio

The continued and worsening instability in the central African region is being blamed for a sharp deterioration in conditions for children.

In his latest report on children and armed conflict in Chad, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says all warring parties continue to recruit and use children in Chad, a country where only 10 percent of all births are recorded.

At the same time, he says, girls remain victims of rape and other sexual violence.

He says the situation is noticeably worse for girls employed as household aides outside of camps for the internally displaced.

The Secretary-General urges all parties to the conflict in Chad to comply, without delay, with relevant Security Council resolutions and to halt the grave abuse of children's rights.

He also appeals to the Government of Chad to fully cooperate with the Task Force on children and armed conflict.

And he advises the government to criminalize the recruitment and use of children under domestic laws and prosecute those responsible of such practices.

This is Donn Bobb reporting for United Nations Radio.

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