2 August 2016
Mr. President,
My Delegation
wishes to thank
the Malaysian Presidency
for convening this
particularly important Open Debate
on Children and
Armed Conflict, and
conveys to Malaysia
its appreciation for all that it has done and will continue to do as
Chair of the Security Council Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict.
The year 2014 was
described as the worst year for children affected by armed conflict. But as
the Secretary-General’s Report
on Children and
Armed Conflict covering
the year 2015 illustrates, the 2014 horror-list has
been surpassed by the number of children caught in armed conflicts and the
scale and severity of violations in 2015. As the Secretary-General states in
his Report, “The impact on children of
our collective failure to prevent and end conflict is severe, and
the present Report
highlights the increased
intensity of grave
violations in a number of situations of armed conflict.”
No one can ignore
this damning observation. Never in recent memory have so many children been
subjected to such violent brutality: children used as soldiers, suicide
bombers, sex slaves, and disposable
intelligence-gatherers in the
most dangerous military
operations. The deliberate destruction
of their schools
and hospitals in
total disregard of
international humanitarian
law has become
a strategy of
war. These crimes
must be condemned
in the strongest possible terms.
As the
Report of the Secretary-General points
out, while there has been progress in the overall protection of children caught
in armed conflict, much more must be done. Governments must be held
accountable for the
full and complete
implementation of action
plans and commitments they have
taken to end and prevent all recruitment of child-soldiers. In the fight
against non-State armed groups and terrorism, States are urged to ensure that
their responses to all threats
against peace and security are
conducted in full compliance with international humanitarian law, to ensure that children are not victimized
twice. My Delegation fully agrees with the
Report that the use of airstrikes
and explosive weapons with wide-area
effects in populated areas exacerbates
the dangers to
which children caught
in armed conflict
are exposed.
Moreover, double
standards, or even a perception of double standards, in listing and delisting
perpetrators must be avoided, since it encourages disregard for international
humanitarian law, frustrates the implementation
of commitments and action plans,
and discourages Governments and other concerned
institutions from making stronger commitments and action plans.
Mr. President,
The Holy See has
been a constant partner of the United Nations in opposing not only the use of
children as combatants, but the many other forms of violence against children
caught in armed conflict. Through
its various structures operating in most of the conflict
zones, the Catholic Church is actively engaged in taking care of the victims of
such violence. Over the years,
Holy See structures
and numerous Catholic
institutions have collaborated
with UN Peacekeeping Missions
and Agencies to
help alleviate the
sufferings of children
in armed conflict and
to share best
practices to address
this ongoing scourge.
Expressing deep appreciation for
all those who work in this area, the Holy See hopes that the plight of children
caught in armed conflict will awaken
consciences, lead to a change of heart, and inspire all parties to lay down
their arms and take up the path of dialogue.
Considering the
best interest of children and the fundamental role of parents, my Delegation
encourages Governments to affirm and
support families of children who are victimized in armed conflict. They
must be assisted
in overcoming prejudices
against child survivors
of armed conflicts, in
particular against women
and girls who
are victims of
rape, and in welcoming back children into the family
fold.
Moreover, while
the International Community plays an important role in supporting States in
their primary responsibility to protect their citizens, it must also interact with the local communities affected
by violence against
children in armed
conflict so that
solutions and programs can emerge
organically, while fostering local ownership. A solution to the plight of
children caught in armed conflict, in particular of child soldiers, requires
sensitivity to finding ways to
reintegrate these children
back into their
own communities. While
we witness barbaric acts
beyond anyone’s imagination
committed also by
child soldiers, we
must remember that these children are exploited and manipulated into
what they have become.
Thus, while their
reintegration into society requires that we recognize the atrocities they may
have committed, we must also build pathways for counseling and
reconciliation with a view to accomplishing fully that reintegration.
Mr. President,
The obligation
to put an end to
barbaric acts against
children caught in
armed conflict is incumbent upon every one of us. In a
particular way, it is incumbent upon this Council, as it calls on
all States to put in
place and implement
stronger measures for
the protection of children in armed conflict, and as it
ensures that UN peacekeeping operations strictly adhere to all laws and
measures in this regard.
Thank you, Mr.
President
