Violence against Afghan Children Rises, Worries UN

The U.N. Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, Radhika Coomaraswamy, just back from a five-day visit to Afghanistan, warns that the deteriorating security situation in the country is becoming a growing danger for children. She says armed groups, including the Taliban, are recruiting minors to serve as soldiers, munitions carriers and even as suicide bombers.

"Afghan sources confirm that children under 18 are being recruited into the Taliban and other anti-government forces," said Radhika Coomaraswamy. "There has been a surge in the last few months. Children are being used even as suicide bombers."

Coomaraswamy says although there have been minimal reports of sexual violence against girls in Afghanistan's Muslim society, there have been reports that boys are being sexually abused by warlords and mujahadeen fighters.