Ms. Yoana Barakova (EFSAS) speaking on victims of Terrorism during 37th Session of UNHRC
March 21, 2018
Ms. Barakova said that violence against children includes and more than often originates from the recruitment of children for the purposes of terrorism and that victims are often found in regions of impoverishment, violence and political volatility. They often carry certain major features such as limited education, lack of work opportunities, lack of family support, such as being orphans, runaways, homeless, or having family involved in illicit activities. They sometimes have a history of previous abuse and mental health issues. Terrorist recruiters, in general terms, target helpless individuals, who live in unstable regions. War-torn States create the so-called desired conditions where thousands of displaced persons, including children become a perfect prey once they already lack safe and secure shelter, reliable guardians and opportunities for positive development. The social class stratification exacerbates these conditions and leaves those individuals into a Catch-22 situation, where the only channels towards advancement remain the unlawful and violent ones.
