Quiz on children affected by armed conflict

The UN Secretary-General recently submitted his 2006 report on children and armed conflict to the General Assembly and the Security Council. The report is examined today, 28th November, in an open debate at the Security Council.

The Secretary-General's report was submitted pursuant to Security Council Resolution 1612, which requests him to submit a report on the implementation of that resolution and of Resolutions 1379, 1460 and 1539, on the recruitment and use of children in armed conflict, and other violations such as the killing and maiming of children, rape, abductions, denial of humanitarian access and attacks against schools and hospitals.

Find out about the current situation of children affected by armed conflict by taking the quiz below.

1. What is the age under which the Convention on the Rights of the Child recommends children do not take part in armed conflicts?

A: 18
B: 16
C: 15

2. Rebel leader Thomas Lubanga Dyilo has recently been charged by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for crimes including recruiting child soldiers. Which country is he from?

A: Uganda
B: Democratic Republic of Congo
C: Burundi

3. In a speech to the Security Council in July, the UN Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict gave an update on figures concerning the number of children affected by armed conflict. How many children did she say are currently working as soldiers?

A: 2,500
B: 25,000
C: 250,000

4. Acccording to the Secretary-General's report, how many countries are currently recruiting or using children in armed conflict?

A: 6
B: 10
C: 12

5. What was the purpose of Security Council Resolution 1612, issued in July 2005?

A: It condemns the use of child soldiers
B: It establishes a monitoring and reporting mechanism to ensure the protection of children exposed to armed conflict
C: It establishes a system of international sanctions against States in which children are used in armed conflicts

6. Besides the Security Council Working Group on children and armed conflict, what is the main international UN mechanism for the protection of children affected by armed conflicts?

A: The Special Representative of the Secretary-General for children and armed conflict
B: The Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict
C: The 3rd Committee of the UN General Assembly

7. What is the name of the current Special Representative for children and armed conflicts?

A: Olara Otunnu
B: Radhika Coomaraswamy
C: Karin Sham Poo

8. According to a September 2006 report, how many schools have been damaged in years of conflict in Sri Lanka?

A: Around 60
B: Around 470
C: Around 630

9. What was the main question raised in relation to the demobilisation of child members of paramilitary forces in Colombia in a report released in June by the General Prosecutor’s/ Attorney General’s Office?

A: The discrepancy between the number of children who were reportedly members of the paramilitary forces and the number of children who were demobilised
B: The fact that child soldiers are not given the same benefits as adults who are demobilised
C: Children who have been involved with paramilitary forces are detained in demobilisation centres for two years before they can return to their communities

10. Which of the following recommendations concerning the use of child soldiers is NOT included in the Secretary-General's report?

A: The SG urges governments and non-State actors to refrain from using and recruiting children for armed conflict
B: The SG encourages the Security Council to call upon parties to prepare action plans to stop the recruitment of children
C: The SG calls upon donors to ensure that adequate funding is available to governments, the UN and NGO for the rehabilitation of child soldiers