Developments in Lebanon
The information below is based on the 2009 report of the Secretary General to the Security Council (A/63/785-S/2009/158) issued on 26 March 2009. More information is available in the report.
Children will continue to be exposed to the threat of explosive remnants of war in all affected regions because of the unprecedented usage of cluster munitions in residential areas, villages, schools and agricultural lands, by Israel during the 2006 conflict, and as long as there is lack of information on the cluster bomb strike data and the clearance of the munitions. During her mission to Lebanon in April 2007, the Special Representative requested the Government of Israel to hand over the strike data to the Government of Lebanon or the United Nations Mine Action Coordination Centre in south Lebanon. However, there has been no response from the Government of Israel to date.
Although Lebanon has signed the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict, it has not yet ratified it. Although the ratification instrument was submitted to Parliament on 11 February 2002, ratification continues to be delayed.
Press Releases by the Special Representative- Visit to the Middle East - Press Briefing 23 April 2007 - Webcast | Summary | UN News Article
- Peace must come to the Middle East for the sake of the children (19 April 2007)
- Lebanon: All parties agree to protect children affected by armed conflict (12 April 2007)
- Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict will be visiting Lebanon, the Occupied Palestinian Territories and Israel from 10 to 19 April 2007
- MIDDLE-EAST CRISIS- How many children will die before the parties agree to stop hostilities? (August 2007)
- UN Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict calls for the protection of children in the Middle East Crisis (20 July 2006)
For more information, visit UNICEF's web pages on Lebanon as well as the UN News Center