Collateral Damage: UN Panel Says Kids Getting Hurt in Mexico’s War on Drugs

Latin American Herald Tribune - UN Panel Says Kids Getting Hurt in Mexico’s War on Drugs: "The U.N. Committee on the Rights of the Child expressed “great concern” Friday over the 1,000 minors killed over the past four years in connection with the Mexican military’s war on drug cartels and organized crime.

In a report on Mexico, which took into account a presentation from the Mexican government, the committee also denounced violations of children’s rights and a “lack of investigation of crimes perpetrated by military personnel.”

The members of the committee – part of the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights – also expressed concern that Mexico could not provide information on the use of minors by non-governmental armed groups.

According to the report, Mexico has “not undertaken measures to prevent the recruitment of children by non-state groups,” including paramilitary groups, organized crime groups and security companies."