IS recruiting children into 'youth wings' in war-torn Iraq

Iraqi boys and girls are being recruited and used by armed groups such as the Islamic State group’s "youth wings", according to the latest report from UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on the situation in the war-torn country.

The report said children were being recruited into both combat and support roles by armed groups, especially IS, Al-Qaeda in Iraq, the popular mobilisation forces and pro-government militias.

Groups have abducted boys aged 13 to 17 saying it was the duty of all males to perform jihad.

The 18-page report published on 9 November 2015, said Iraqi children were suffering "abhorrant violations" that are having dramatic consequences on the younger generation.  

"I condemn, in the strongest possible terms, the continuous grave violations committed against children in armed conflict," said Ban Ki-Moon.

He said the actions of the Islamic State group against the rights of children in the country "may amount to war crimes or crimes against humanity".

Recruitment

Eyewitnesses have reported children patrolling with IS alongside adults and manning checkpoints in Ninawa, Salah al-Din and Diyala.

In 2014, the UN verified at least 67 cases of boys recruited by IS, but this does not reflect the full extent of the crisis.

The number of reported incidents increased significantly after the fall of Mosul to the jihadist group in June 2014.

From August 2014 to June 2015, hundreds of boys were forcibly taken from their families in Ninawa governorate, of which Mosul is the capital city. They were sent to training centres where boys as young as eight were reportedly taught the Koran, the use of weapons and combat tactics.

"The systematic recruitment and use of children by ISIL and the reported emergence of 'youth wings' is of grave concern, as it is an increasing tactic of warfare of the group," said the report.

Eyewitnesses have reported children patrolling with IS alongside adults and manning checkpoints in Ninawa, Salah al-Din and Diyala.

Children are also being used as spies and scouts, to transport military supplies and equipment, to arrest and detain individuals, to videotape attacks for propaganda purposes, to plant explosive devices, and as suicide bombers and executioners.

They have also actively engaged in attacks or combat situations.

The UN has received unverifiable reports about the creation of an IS youth wing called Fityan Al Islam that is active in areas such as Diyala and Salah al-Din.

The jihadist group has also posted images and videos on social media of training for boys and of boys perpetrating violent acts.

Detention

As of September 2015, 486 boys were being held in detention facilities on security charges from periods ranging from two months to three years.

Due to a lack of specific institutions for children there is seen to be no alternative to prison. However, existing detention facilities fail to reach international standards and lack basic infrastructure.

The report also said 1,400 children had been abducted in the country between 1 January 2011 and 30 June 2015, and there have been more than 3,000 child casualties.

"The government of Iraq faces tremendous challenges to protect the country's children, who urgently need to be shielded from this brutal conflict," said Leila Zerrougui, the UN secretary-general's special representative for children and armed conflict, reported the UN news centre yesterday.

"I call on the government to take robust action to address the recruitment and use of children by all parties to the conflict," Zerrougui said.

She also stressed that the detention of children "should be used as a last resort and for the shortest period of time".