Staus of UNICEF Database on Underage LTTE Members in May 2008

by Child Protection Authority, June 12, 2008

- Fourth update

The UNICEF database of under-18 persons in the LTTE has been updated by UNICEF following a universal verification exercise during March/April 2008.

Despite this universal verification exercise, as at end of May 2008, there still remain 125 cases of under-18 persons in the UNICEF database from alleged recruitment prior to 2008. A further seven cases with UNICEF who do not wish advocacy with the CPA brings this total to 132. The Table below summarizes the status of these 132 cases. CPA has also received 15 UR complaints during 2008.

The breakdown of these 2008 cases is as follows:

- Three police cases who will be released with due process
- A case of confused identity between two siblings – released
- Six cases who are either released or are over the age of 18
- Four cases remaining to be traced and released

The May UNICEF statistics also includes nine of the above 2008 cases making the total UNICEF under-18 entries 141. CPA will continue to publish regular updates on the status of the underage children in the UNICEF database.