U.N. official to assess child recruitment

UNITED NATIONS, May 27 (UPI) -- The United Nations has deployed a top official to Chad and the Central African Republic to assess the number of children being recruited to fight in conflicts.

Radhika Coomaraswamy, U.N. secretary-general special representative for children and armed conflict, Monday began a six-day mission to Chad and the Central African Republic to meet with top officials and evaluate firsthand the level at which children are being recruited to be soldiers. Coomaraswamy is also tasked with assessing the overall impact the escalating conflicts in both countries are having on children, the United Nations reported.

Coomaraswamy is expected to meet with government officials from both countries along with heads of U.N. missions and other non-governmental organizations.

Additionally Coomaraswamy will focus on "cross-border recruitment of children; the safety of humanitarian workers; the security of camps for refugees and internally displaced persons; the increase of rapes and other sexual violence; and the culture of impunity that is widespread in the region," the release said.