New Delhi: UNICEF Thursday strongly condemned the execution of four children in the Somali state of Puntland for allegedly associating with the Al Shabaab militant group, a press release stated.
UNICEF expressed deep regret over the execution of four young people in the Somali state of Puntland this past weekend for offenses committed as children when they were under the age of 18, while they were allegedly associated with Al Shabaab. The children were convicted by military courts that lacked specialized child justice procedures, the statement said.
UNICEF has urged the Puntland authorities to prevent the imposition of death sentences against the children, arguing that their age at the time of the alleged crimes does not make them eligible for the death penalty.
“UNICEF requests the Puntland authorities to prevent the imposition of death sentences and calls for the due process to be ensured for all young adults arrested for their association with armed groups when they were below the age of 18 years, in line with the Juvenile Law, endorsed by the Puntland authorities and the government’s obligation to international human rights obligations under the Convention on the Rights of the Child,” the statement said.