Protecting Children in Times of War

Media Statement

Syrian Coalition

Istanbul, Turkey

July 10, 2013

The Syrian Coalition and the members of the FSA reiterate their full commitment to the Geneva Conventions and all international charters related to times of war. It is certain everyone who infringes on the regulations of the charters will be brought before Syrian judiciary in the future.

The Syrian Coalition wants to remind the world that the Syrian Revolution began to defend young children in Dara’a after they were arrested by Assad’s forces for writing anti-regime graffiti on the walls of their school.

Assad’s war against his civilians has left 1730 children, under the age of 10, dead .

The Syrian Coalition firmly condemns the use of children in military operations, as well as their use as human shields.

Assad recruits and uses school children into what is called “Popular Committees” and “National Defense Forces.” Furthermore, Assad’s forces arrest children, when they are unable to capture their fathers, and use these children as human shields in their incursions into villages across Syria.

The Syrian Coalition asserts once again that the only solution to prevent the infringement of international conventions and charters is to support the Syrian Coalition and its affiliated bodies and institutions.

We ask for mercy for our martyrs, health for our wounded, and freedom for our detainees.

Long live Syria and its people, free and with honor.