Doc. 10629

1 July 2005

Health and welfare situation of children living in conflict or post-conflict zones in Europe

Motion for a resolution

presented by Mr van Winsen and others

1.        The Council of Europe has among its members States emerging from a period of armed conflicts, or still experiencing such conflicts or periods of serious political instability. It is very clearly realised that the main victims in these conflicts are civilians and among them primarily children.

2.        During these conflicts, children are abducted, recruited and used by the opposing forces. Many children are killed or injured and left disabled for life, whether physically or mentally as well. Sometimes deprived of their parents, they live in the street or in difficult circumstances from both a material and an affective point of view, with adverse long-term effects on their health, education and future development. Child mortality is very high.

3.        In conflict or post-conflict zones, the structures of the essential health services, the basic social services, and the schools are very often destroyed or disrupted and are not always among the priory sectors for reconstruction.

There is a dearth of qualified staff, particularly medical, many of whom have been compelled to take flight. Infectious diseases once eradicated are becoming rife again.

4.        Unemployment rates are very high and a large part of the population lives in extreme poverty. Drug trafficking and crime create a climate of insecurity which is not conducive to the fulfilment of the rights of the child.

5.        The member states should undertake to do everything possible to prevent children from being caught up in conflict zones and to ensure their protection; they should give absolute priority to children, to respect for their bodily integrity and to meeting their elementary needs; they must satisfy themselves that on emerging from conflict, full measures are taken to give the children every assurance of personal reconstruction.

Signed (see overleaf)

Signed ¹:

van WINSEN, Bart, Netherlands, EPP/CD

ALAY FERRER, Vicenç, Andorra, SOC

BARGHOLTZ, Helena, Sweden, ALDE

CHERNYSHENKO, Igor, Russia, EDG

CORREIA, Telmo, Portugal, EDG

COX, Thomas, United Kingdom, SOC

DUPRAZ, John, Switzerland, ALDE

FERNÁNDEZ-CAPEL, Blanca, Spain, EPP/CD

GÜLÇIÇEK, Ali Riza, Turkey, SOC

HANCOCK, Michael, United Kingdom, ALDE

HURSKAINEN, Sinikka, Finland, SOC

JACQUAT, Denis, France, EPP/CD

LALOY, Marie-José, Belgium, SOC

LINDINGER, Ewald, Austria, SOC

MARQUET, Bernard, Monaco, ALDE

McCAFFERTY, Chris, United Kingdom, SOC

OSKINA, Vera, Russia, EDG

RIGONI, Andrea, Italy, EPP/CD

STREB-HESSE, Rita, Germany, SOC

VERMOT-MANGOLD, Ruth-Gaby, Switzerland, SOC

WOHLLEBEN, Verena, Germany, SOC

¹        SOC: Socialist Group

      EPP/CD: Group of the European People’s Party

      ALDE: Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe

      EDG: European Democratic Group

      UEL: Group of the Unified European Left

      NR: not registered in a group