Amnesty lists Russian war crimes against children
Published: Monday, Nov 18th 2024, 12:40
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The human rights organization Amnesty International accuses Russia of war crimes against children in Ukraine. Amnesty was able to verify 17 incidents in which children were harmed with 120 videos in 2024 alone.
In addition, on-site investigations had revealed that Russian forces had deliberately attacked civilians and civilian infrastructure, the organization said. Precise information on the number of civilian victims and children killed in Ukraine is currently not possible. However, there is a consensus among aid organizations working in Ukraine that the figures for 2024 have risen significantly.
"In any society, children are among the most vulnerable groups who enjoy special protection under international law," said Amnesty expert Patrick Thompson. "We continue to see children being killed and injured in areas far from the front line, including in areas where there are zero military targets," he said.
Attack on children's clinic in Kiev
The Geneva Convention outlaws deliberate attacks on civilians, aid workers, hospitals, educational institutions and religious facilities as war crimes.
The incidents documented by Amnesty include an attack on the largest Ukrainian children's hospital in Kiev. A doctor reported how his hospital was hit and he himself was injured while operating on a child. Data from the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights indicated that the summer of 2024 had been a deadly one for children in Ukraine.
"Unlawful attacks, especially against children, are intended to spread terror and panic among the civilian population," said Thompson. The attackers must not be left in the secure feeling that they cannot be prosecuted. The international community must ensure that they are held accountable.
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