United Nations Radio

The UN special representative for children and armed conflict says children are the "silent victims" of the ongoing violence in Iraq.

Radhika Coomaraswamy, who concluded a five-day visit to the country on Friday, says many Iraqi children no longer go to school while others have been recruited for violent activities. This includes joining militias and insurgent groups, and even serving as suicide bombers.

Ms. Coomaraswamy explains that poverty is often the driving force behind this decision.

"Sometimes children are paid to do certain things, but also, and often I think that they get involved because they have nothing else to do. And also their brothers are involved. In a sectarian war the whole community gets involved. But also, I think, the political leaders allow them to get involved, as well as the military leaders. And I think that's where we also have to target, to say that they don't recruit. Even if children come, you don't take them."

The UN expert strongly urges all parties to the conflict in Iraq to immediately release any children under the age of 18 who are associated with their forces in any way.

Reporting for UN Radio, I'm Dianne Penn.

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