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Subscribe to RSSActivists say that more than 1,000 children have been killed since the uprising in Syria began last year.
Children were slaughtered, tortured, sexually attacked and used as human shields by pro-government Syrian forces, according to a damning United Nations report released late on Monday.
"Children were victims of killing and maiming, arbitrary arrest, detention, torture and ill-treatment, including sexual violence, by the Syrian Armed Forces, the intelligence forces, and the Shabbiha militia," the U.N.'s Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict Radhika Coomaraswamy said in a release issued along with the report.
Shaam News Network / AFP - Getty Images
Residents of Houla ride in the back of a pick-up truck on June 5, according to Syrian opposition's Shaam News Network. In May, a massacre in Houla claimed 108 lives including those of 49 children, according to UN figures.
The shabiha are a pro-government militia that recruits largely from the Alawite community- the same Muslim sect as President Bashar Assad. Sunnis, who make up the majority of the rebels, are an estimated 74 percent of the population.
NYT: Assad's response to Syria unrest leaves his own sect divided
In an interview with the BBC, Coomaraswamy said she had learned of "horrific" reports in Syria. She told the BBC:
"We are really quite shocked. Killing and maiming of children in cross-fire is something we come across in many conflicts but this torture of children in detention, children as young as 10, is something quite extraordinary, which we don't really see in other places."
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"We also had testimonies and saw children who had been tortured, and who carried the torture marks with them. We also heard of children being used -- this was recounted to us by some children -- of being put on tanks and being used as human shields so that the tanks would not be fired upon."
Coomaraswamy also criticized the rebellion's main armed group for its treatment of children.
'Battle is in Damascus' as Syrian tanks fire in 12-hour exchange
A civil war is breaking out in Syria between the Sunnis and Shiites with militia groups fighting along sectarian lines. Sources report regular gun battles close to the presidential palace where the Syrian regime is experiencing problems controlling its own armed forces. NBC's Richard Engel reports.
"For the first time we heard of children being recruited by the Free Syrian Army mainly in medical and service orientated jobs but still on the front line," she told the BBC.
The U.N. says Syrian forces have killed more than 10,000 people in the crackdown on an uprising inspired by revolts which toppled four Arab leaders in 2011. Syrian authorities say foreign-backed militants have killed 2,600 soldiers and police.
Activists say Syria's army and pro-Assad militia have committed two massacres in the last two weeks, in the Houla region and a farming hamlet called Mazraat al-Qubeir. Syrian authorities blamed the killings on "terrorists."
Report: Journalist says rebels tried to get him killed
The United States and other Western nations who have been critical of Assad's regime had little new to suggest to end Syria's 15-month long crisis, which has seen the United Nations Security Council deadlocked amid continued support for Assad by veto-holding Russia and China.
The use of civilians as human shields has been reported before. On March 25, Human Rights Watch released a video purportedly showing how Syrians were forced to walk in front of armored personnel carriers:
The international rights organization also quoted a resident of Kafr Nabl as saying:
"They took maybe 25 people, including me. There were also eight children, aged from 10 to 15, among us. They made us march in front and around the military vehicles to some houses where they were searching for wanted opposition activists. We marched for about 600 meters. They were insulting us the whole time. They arrested several people from the houses. Then they made us march back to their base, after which they released all of us, apart from the detained activists. The whole operation lasted for about two hours."
Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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- Chinese activists: You can't 'suicide' us
Follow us on Twitter: @msnbc_world
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its like we are in denial "just in case" - "some of it " may NOT be true. SO i suggest we fall back on the old "duck" addage and stop acting like frightened children. Instead think of the unmitigated Terror these poor children are being forced to endure.
its time the arab nations rose up and acted like the "men" they purport to be, tell russia and china to pound salt and OPENLY and RAPIDLY create the consortium of arab nations that will act on this rotten regime by the weekend.
how come they dont have a fatah or whatever buzz word they like to use on these murderous criminals.
and why is there not a UN war criminal status on this guys head.
to not act makes the arab nations as bad as this criminal and the world should condemn any country that does not support imediate and effective removal of this tyrant.
I can't believe some of the comments made. Children are being murdered and all you write about (sitting in your comfortable chair in the safety of your home under the protection of freedom provided for you) is the cost of lives and money? Let's put it this way, if it was happening to you and your family, I bet you would want help of American soldiers. Quit thinking about your self. Think about the real victims. And listen, we have no draft, everybody in the military chooses to be there. Let them do their job. They knew that their life could be in danger. I was drafter during the Viet Nam war. I served 5 years, 3 of those years as a POW. I did not have a choice, however, I did serve my country honorable
this is an ARAB nations deal. they need to stop running with the dogs and barking with the hounds and grow a set. russia and china need to be told by the rest of the world to back off- waaayyyy off.
then if the middle east wants help they need to shopw some humility and ask for it. THEN we can go in and take care of buisness.
When the Syrians start paying the taxes that support our troops like I do, then they can start getting their help.
icekube.......Thank You for your service and patriotism. However, I beg to disagree on the matter of "the help of American Soldiers". The Syrian situation is NOT a conflict I would ever want to see our brave military involved in. We tried this in Afghanistan after Retaliation against Osama bin Laden, and have been embroiled in a War for almost 11 years there, with NO SIGN OR INDICATION that either the general population OR the governing regime is thankful or appreciative for our invasion and freedom from the Taliban. I for one think shedding of one drop of American blood in Syria is totally not acceptable. Intervene and assist the "Rebels" and within 6 months of deliverance they will be burning our Flag and chanting "Death To America". No, Thanks.
Icekube, the United Nations is a group of Thugs, ran by the New World Order. The NWO has had Syria in it's sights for sometime now... Do you want another Kinetic-Action, as we had in Lybia?? The UN is not Our friend, Pal... better brush-up on History, it will repeat... We DO NOT ANSWER TO THE UNITED NATIONS, NOR DO THEY CONTROL OUR MILITARY.....
Frog, you are right on the mark. Best thing for us is that the UN move to France, or some other Muslim Paradise, and that we stop paying for them.
Yes Steve..sad to say it's the Obama Agenda, and his Fascist/Socialist promotion of the Muslim Brotherhood. People better Wake-up" and realize, that the United Nations is involved with the Monetary aspects of these atrocities, and the UN answers to the New World Order..... the UN is a group of Thugs!
And what about the children that Americans are killing in Afghanistan as collateral damage or intentionally in massacres or in the atomic bombings of Japan.
I will make one further comment... it's called the "Military Industrial Complex" we were warned long ago in the famous, or not so famous speech, by Eisenhower. He was persecuted by many of his former Military chums, however in my eyes, Eisenhower's visions of the Military Industrial Complex,borders genius... we are now living-in, the warnings of his brilliant departure speech.
leap frog, you were ding kinda well till you brought obama and all the slur into the discussion. its the gop that wants to jump right in there remember. same as libya. come on thats to recently for the selective memory loss to take place. - you may have jumped out on this one prematurely.
Come On,,, I only write the Truth, based upon my Geo-political studies, and write my Posts based upon the facts, to the best of my ability. I have no Party Affilation,and in my opinion, Party Lines are no longer an issue, concerning our current situation here at home, and in the Middle-East. Obama is a Fascist/Socialist, and He, and his Administration, the Pentagon, and the Obama Planners were/are heavily involved with the Arab Spring, and the push of the Muslim Brotherhood. Their main objective is to conquer, and control Eurasia. That was the main reason for the formation of Africa-Com. I do admit however,i am not fond of Obama, and what he stands for, however Party Affiliation does not enter into the equation. I am always up for a good Debate. If you would like to Debate the facts, that Obama's Agenda does not, nor has never promoted the Muslim Brotherhood,nor encourages Democide for the United States, and is not dangerous to Our Liberties here in the United States, and abroad. I would be more than happy to Debate You, on these issues, and prove to You, of his Fascist/Socialist Agenda, here in the United States, in the Middle-East, and abroad. Have a good afternoon... Ciao
The human being, at any given time or place, the potentially most savage animal on the face of the earth!
If the UN/NATO goes in there, pretty soon the cries of baby killers will be pointed at them.
Until it spills over into the United States or endangers the natural resources of oil...it doesn't impact us. It's sad it's happening but if a people don't like their gov't, rise up and stop them...otherwise, you're accepting what your gov't does. I pay taxes for the common good of my neighbors and I...not to help the Syrians win their country back...Where were the Syrians when the US was fighting the British during the Revolutionary War? Yea, the French helped us, but mainly cause they didn't like the British...that and we have more than paid them back...
What the hell kind of world are we living in? Power, money, power, money... That's what it's all about!!! Just take him out with his London wife and end this!!! But makesure all the money is taken away from family and friends that killed so many innocent children so that they could live like kings and queens throughout their lives on the blood of the children...
Shame on the USA, Russia, China, and all other countries that have been allowing this to happen!!! Take this PIG out and let him and his wife hang!!!
So why don't you stand up and do something? You seem motivated, go join the "freedom fighters". Until then, unless you have something to put on the table, be quiet.
"All our troops are doing is bombing villages and killing women and children." Senator Obama
Ahem...Mark...This is happening all around the peaceful realm of Islam. This is Islam unveiled. The countries you mention are not "letting" this happen. This is a choice and predictably so. Islam is morally bankrupt, and if you don't agree, you can watch it on the news. Murdering morons.
Would we expect anything less from Obama??? It is despictable the way our Corpations have sold out to China just for a buck on the backs of Slave labor. Ya, GM was sure saved, on the backs of the American tax payer, and enslaved Chinese. There was a time when our values would not do business with such countries. And Russia, we have a President who has made lord knows what kinda of sale-out promises. TRAITOR!
As a vet myself... I live in America and don't have to be quiet. That's freedom!!!
i think those that actually want to blame Obama for this are possibly morally bankrupt. its either hate or opportunistic but certainly not very well thought out. either one is just not right.
How can anyone shoot a child? Easy, you just don't lead them as much. F*** 'em, let them kill each other. Tjhe whole Middle East including Israel, muderers of American Sailors and Marines aboard the USS Liberty.
Where is our Tuff-Guy President now??? Hiding under his bed from fear of Putin. The coward runs when confronted with a real threat.
the leaders of the u.s. must stop adhering to the bilderberg group, must stop sending in it's al qaeda operatives, orchestrating events and then coming to the "rescue"! Start representing our people again.
What a mess.
One cannot believe anything the media puts out, with all the spinning going on, plus all the behind-the-scenes machinations governments are involved in.
Life in parts of the Middle East must be horrible for average people.
Unfortunately, peace is something those people have never known and will never know.
I just thank my lucky stars I was born in the U.S.
It's very sad but this is a world wide issue and not for the the US to dwell upon independently. Next story thank you.
Wonder why the "occupiers" don't occupy the United Nations? In fact, we could GIVE them the UN, and they can occupy from within.
Women and children used as human shields? You mean...like Iraq and Afghanistan? Remember when the press couldn't admit that...but NOW they can. It's a miracle. Typical chickensheite behavior of Islam.
So, what else is new. It was done throughout history. Why should things change?
Sounds like another "they took the babies out of the incubators" lie.
there is not ONE SINGLE american life that is worth these POS's..... i am a very conservative person, but our young men coming home in boxes because these savages are crying wolf all the time is sickening. Why the hell do we have to do everything? and pay for everything? LET THEM KILL EACH OTHER. we have enough problems of our own, but the USA is just getting diluted with all this interference.
Take all of the unemployed here in the USA who claim they can not find work and yet refuse to move to where the jobs are and send them to Syria. They can earn there free money while taking the place of the innocent children riding on tanks.
Sometimes I wish there was a big red button. Attached to this big red button is the life thread of all of these people that have no compassion. Those people who treat each other so cruelly and brutally. Then I push the button and all of those cruel people just simply drop dead. Not a very pleasant wish, I know. But when I see articles like this, I still wish for it.
The U.S. has another chance to use it's trillion dollar toys $$ (sorry, forgot it's about helping others....wink ..wink)
and our media is SO PREDICTABLE. what about all the children and babies killed in AFRICA??? oh yea, their black. we need to get everyone on of our boys out of there and never go back. if they get out of line NUKE THEM.
It is not America's problem. After this humanity crisis there will be another and another and another. America needs to deal with its own problems such as the income inequality. If it is not dealt with we will have our own civil war for US military forces to manage.
This horrendous report should be required reading for all Americans, including our teenage school children. It's time for everyone to stop their own petty bitching and recognize that we do live in the best country in the world.
why when israel uses children as human sheilds its all good but when syria does it its terrible
who said that? do you really believe that? I dont. Its never EVER good to abuse the innocent ones; people or animals. NEVER.
just saying israel used kids a shuman sheilds and the us didnt find that offensive at all they even ran over a pretty blonde american student that was there protesting and killed her and america didnt care at all
And Russia and China STILL support Syria! Action is needed but by the UN Council.
Lies lies. Go to:
Let Russia and China take responsibility since they have condoned the violence in their own interest. They can have this hellhole if they want it. Let them rebuild what is left after the guys at the top take their fortunes out of the country. Some other radical muslim sect will take over anyway. Let them kill each other, not our troops.
We have taken on waaaaaaaaaay too much as the caretaker for the downtrodden. Call me selfish, but we need to pay more attention to our own domestic problems.