UN asks Lanka to free child soldiers
A senior United Nations envoy asked the Sri Lankan government to release all detained Tamil Tiger child soldiers and reunite them with their families.
The UN special envoy on children and armed conflict made the call while on a five-day visit to the island.
Maj Gen Patric Cammaert said that examples from across the world showed that children recovered better from trauma when living with their families.
The envoy met nearly 300 children forcibly recruited by the rebels.
"Hundreds of children are still missing or separated from their parents. They must be reunited as soon as possible," the Dutch UN official told reporters.
"The best practice in other parts of the world show that children recover better from traumatic experiences when living with their loved ones."
He said children in government-run camps for internally displaced people (IDPs) were also at risk.
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