The objective of the conference was to bring together people who work with children in areas affected by armed conflict in different parts of the world. It is envisaged that the sessions will create a platform for the exchange of experiences and ideas by the participants.

A spokesman for Save the Children stated that through the conference it will be possible to find out the situation of children affected by armed conflict in various parts of the world, to examine what has already been done and to determine what can be done in the future. The conference will focus attention on children’s participation in decision-making and the responsibility of adults in helping children who have been physically tortured and traumatized by the conflict and other types of abuse related to war.

The inaugural session of the conference was attended by Ted Chaiban, UNICEF Representative for Sri Lanka and the Maldives. Speakers at the session included representatives from Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and India.

At the inaugural session, the participants urged governments, military groups and other organizations to stop conscription of child soldiers and create a conflict-free environment for children.

They pointed out that over the last decade, around two million children have died in conflict, while six to seven million children have been disabled or maimed due to war. In African and Asian countries, an estimated 300,000 children are engaged in armed conflict. Since 1991, landmines have maimed 82,000 children and internal conflicts have displaced 40 million children.

At the inaugural session it was highlighted that even humanitarian workers, who come as a blessing to war-affected areas, sometimes sexually abuse the vulnerable segments such as women and children leaving them HIV positive.

Among the proposals made by delegates was the need for special laws for the accountability of child abuse, especially during times of war, increasing mine risk education and reintegrating children with their families.

Making the keynote address at the inauguration, the Resident Representative of UNICEF, Ted Chaiban, pointed out that education was the key to bringing a child traumatized by war back to normal life.