security council children and armed conflict

The COVID-19 pandemic has added new dimensions to this vital work – and new stresses. Last year alone, more than 12,300 children were released. The Annual Report, with its accountability and engagement components, is a crucial instrument.Īs a result, 17 Action Plans are being implemented and at least 35 new commitments were made by parties to conflict during 2020.

They advocate for the release of children, provide technical and capacity building assistance, and support this Council’s working group on children and armed conflict. They monitor and document violations, engage with parties to conflict and develop action plans and commitments. To do this, they use all available tools put in place by this Council’s 13 resolutions on ending and preventing violations against children. My Special Representative and the United Nations on the ground, along with civil society and other partners, are fully mobilized to better protect children and to prevent violations against them from occurring in the first place. We are also seeing schools and hospitals, constantly attacked, looted, destroyed or used for military purposes, with girls’ educational and health facilities targeted disproportionately.Īs we mark the 25th anniversary of the creation of the Children and Armed Conflict mandate, its continued relevance is sadly clear and it remains a proven tool for protecting the world’s children.

Moreover, new and deeply concerning trends emerged: an exponential increase in the number of children abducted, and in sexual violence against boys and girls. The most prevalent verified violations continued to be the recruitment and use of children, the killing and maiming of children, and the denial of humanitarian access to children. The disregard for children’s rights at times of conflict and upheaval is shocking and heartbreaking. The start of 2021 has been no exception and, although monitoring of violations against children committed during 2021 will not be reported until my report of next year, I call on all parties to conflict to prioritize the prevention of violations against children and to engage in dialogue, ceasefires and peace processes.ĭuring 2020, almost 24,000 grave violations were committed against 19,300 children in the 21 situations covered by this mandate. I thank the Government of Estonia for convening today’s Open Debate on Children and Armed Conflict.Ĭonflict devastates societies and hits children particularly hard.

Security council children and armed conflict