(Resumed) Reasserting international legal protections for children in armed conflict: strengthening the protection of education and the prevention of grave violations - Security Council, 10182nd meeting

I think it was.
Very.
The 10,182nd meeting of the Security Council is resumed.
Before beginning, I wish to remind all speakers to please limit their statements to no more than three minutes in order to enable the Council to carry out its work expeditiously.
The flashing light on the microphone will prompt speakers to bring their remarks to a close after three minutes.
I now give the floor to the delegation of Lebanon.
President.
I join others in thanking Colombia for convening this important debate, and our sincere appreciation goes as well to our distinguished briefers for their insights and testimonies.
We are especially grateful to Mrs.
Vanessa Fraser for her engagement to advance the protection of children, including through her visit to Lebanon in February this year.
Mr.
president, all suffering caused by war is devastating.
Yet there is something particularly devastating about the suffering endured by children in 2025.
The UN recorded the highest number of children affected by grave violations since its creation.
Children are being killed, maimed, recruited by armed forces, raped and abducted.
Schools and hospitals are being attacked.
Humanitarian access is continuously restricted and denied.
Among the many situations that reflect this devastating reality, Gaza cannot go unmentioned and Gaza children are re-enacting funeral processions with dolls when death becomes part of a child's daily environment.
The consequences go far beyond what is tangible or quantifiable.
Mr.
president, in Lebanon, the Numbers tells another devastating story.
Since the 2nd of March 2026, 247 children were killed and a thousand others have been injured.
On average, 12 children have been killed or injured every single day.
These numbers reflect the real life consequences of repeated Israeli aggression.
They reflect the consequences of bombardments that have forced hundreds of thousands of children and their families to flee their homes, and a reality in which civilians once again are made to bear the heaviest burden of conflict.
The harm extends far beyond the immediate casualties.
Civilian infrastructure essential to children's survival and well-being, including water and sanitation facilities, has been attacked.
Some schools have been reduced to rubble, while others have been transformed into shelters for displaced families.
As a result, children are not only being deprived of safety but also of education, stability, social protection and a sense of normal life.
The continued threat posed by explosive remnants of war further endangers children and underscores the importance of the 2015 Safe Schools Declaration in Protecting education during Armed conflict Humanitarian and recovery needs are on the increase as we speak The recent extension of the flash appeal is a clear reminder that the situation remains severe and that significant gaps persist.
Mr.
president, the Lebanese government continues to demand an effective and unconditional ceasefire, withdrawal of Israeli troops occupying Lebanon and for the safe return of all those forcibly displaced from their homes.
It remains equally committed to the talks brokered by the US and to ensuring the conditions conducive to their success.
Mr.
president, in order to protect children, our collective response must move from principle to action.
First, states must uphold the basic principles and purposes of the charter, including sovereignty, territorial integrity and the prohibition of the use of force They are safeguards against the very conditions that place children in harm's way.
Second, all parties to conflict must comply fully with their obligations under international humanitarian law and international human rights law.
This entails that humanitarian assistance and access must be safe, rapid and unimpeded.
Children should not have to wait for political calculations to determine whether food, water, shelter and medical care will reach them.
Third, states must invest in preventive diplomacy, dialogue, mediation and de-escalation.
These tools are sometimes spoken of as abstract concepts, but in practice they are among the most concrete means available to protect children.
Finally, accountability for flagrant violations of international law must be ensured without selectivity or room for impunity.
Mr.
president, children must be protected from the horrors of war, not be made to bear its heaviest consequences.
Thank you.
I thank the delegate of Lebanon for that statement.
I now give the floor to Ireland.
Thank you President Ireland aligns with the statements of the European Union and the Group of friends for Children and Armed conflict We thank Colombia for convening us and thank Special Representative Vanessa Frazer and the Briefers for their sobering remarks.
And we also wish to take the opportunity to reiterate Ireland's strong support to Srsg Frazier to her office and its important work.
President, over the 30 years of this mandate, we have borne witness to the horrors facing children in situations of armed conflict.
Year after year, we have been briefed in this Council on the disproportionate toll that war places on the world's most innocent and vulnerable.
And yet, in this debate, we have heard again how we have now reached a new grim record, the highest number of verified grave violations against children since commencement of the mandate.
Each of the 24,174 cases documented in this report represents a child killed, maimed, denied humanitarian access, sexually violated, recruited or abducted, and the overall figure of over 38,000 total verified grave violations shows that many children are suffering multiple violations.
Particularly shocking is the 34% surge in the killing of children last year, and we are appalled that in 2025, government forces were the main perpetrators of grave violations against children for the first time under this mandate.
We underline again children's unique vulnerabilities in situations of armed conflict and their lower threshold of harm compared to adults.
Protection of children is not an aspiration.
It is an obligation President.
The increased use of explosive weapons in densely populated areas and growing use of explosive armed drones are having a devastating impact on children.
Again, in this report we see the highest number of grave violations against children were verified in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories.
This is largely owing to the use of explosive weapons in densely populated areas, which have killed and seriously maimed thousands of children.
We also saw a whipper result in the killing and maiming of children in Ukraine, Myanmar and Lebanon We reiterate our call on Israel Russia, Myanmar and all parties to conflict to comply with their obligations under international humanitarian law.
President, the Secretary General's report records thousands of attacks on schools across almost all conflict settings, including Afghanistan Democratic Republic of the Congo, Haiti, Sudan, Palestine and Ukraine.
We appreciate the focus brought to this issue by the presidency in today's debate.
Schools and educational facilities must be protected spaces in which children feel safe.
They provide vital structure, support and hope for the future.
For children whose lives have been impacted by conflict.
Attacks on schools and education facilities not only endanger children's lives and their physical safety, they also disrupt learning opportunities and have severe long term consequences for the protection of children and their exposure to other grave violations, including recruitment and use.
We have the tools to protect children in situations of conflict and now must implement them.
Ireland calls on all parties to conflict to comply with their obligations under international humanitarian law and international human rights law.
This includes the obligation to allow and facilitate rapid, safe and unimpeded passage of humanitarian relief for civilians in need, and this is essential in order to safeguard children's education, safety and well-being.
Second, we highlight the instruments that serve to strengthen child protection and conflict.
In particular, the Vancouver Principles, the Paris Principles, the Safe Schools Declaration, and the Explosive Weapons in populated Areas declaration.
We call on all Member states to endorse and implement these instruments.
And finally, we must ensure accountability for violations against children through national or international courts.
This is essential both for the victims themselves and as a key preventative measure.
We must also strengthen and enhance monitoring, reporting and accountability mechanisms which incorporate a child rights lens.
President, to conclude, the international community and all Member States should be able to agree that the killing and maiming of children and other grave violations against children are unacceptable.
Ending grave violations against children must be at the very top of the international agenda.
Let us work together to stop this appalling reality.
Thank you.
I thank the delegation of Ireland for that statement.
I give the floor to Malta.
Thank you, president, and I wish to start by thanking Colombia for convening this very important debate.
I would also like to thank Srsg Frazier, Unicef and the CSO briefer for their insightful yet sobering briefings.
Malta aligns itself with the statements delivered by the European Union and the group of friends of CEC.
President Malta reiterates its unwavering support for the mandate of the Special Representative of the Secretary General for Children and Armed Conflict, Miss Vanessa Frazier, and for the indispensable work carried out by her office.
We reaffirm the importance of preserving the independence, impartiality and credibility of the mandate and of its monitoring and reporting functions.
We further underscore the importance of ensuring that the Security Council working Group on Children and Armed conflict is able to fulfil its mandate by translating, monitoring and reporting into timely, concrete recommendations and follow up action.
President Malta remains appalled by the scale and severity of grave violations committed against children in conflict situations, which in 2025 affected the highest number of children recorded since the establishment of the CEC mandate.
The Occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nigeria, Myanmar and Somalia recorded the highest numbers of verified violations in 2025, underlining the urgent need for greater protection of children and full compliance with international humanitarian law.
We remain deeply concerned by the continued suffering of children as a result of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, including attacks affecting civilians and civilian infrastructure, as well as the unlawful transfer and deportation of children.
We support continued efforts to secure their safe return, recovery and reintegration.
We are also alarmed by the continued deterioration of the situation in Haiti, where escalating gang violence has resulted in a sharp increase in violence against children.
Of particular concern is the fact that in 2025, government forces were responsible for a significant proportion of verified grave violations against children, including killing and maiming, attacks on schools and hospitals, and denial of humanitarian access.
This trend reflects a troubling erosion of respect for international humanitarian law and the special protections afforded to children, and underscores the urgent need to move from condemnation to sustained engagement, prevention, accountability and compliance with international humanitarian law.
We urge all parties listed in the Secretary General's report to engage constructively with the United Nations and to develop and implement action plans to end and prevent grave violations against children.
It is in this period that we welcome the ongoing engagement between the United Nations and parties to conflict, including discussions aimed at advancing child protection commitments in Sudan and the Syrian Arab Republic.
We also welcome that more than 13,100 children formerly associated with armed forces or armed groups received protection or reintegration support in 2025.
President, sustaining progress requires continued investment in child protection capacities across the conflict cycle.
We recall Security Council Resolution 2764 on the importance of maintaining child protection capacities during peace operation transitions and ensuring that child protection remains integrated across conflict prevention, peace building, and recovery efforts.
Yet, the figures before us today show that commitments and frameworks are not enough unless they result in tangible protection for children on the ground.
In this context, Malta condemns all attacks on and abuse of children in armed conflict.
Children are disproportionately affected by these violations, with girls bearing the greatest burden of conflict related sexual violence and boys disproportionately affected by recruitment and use.
Malta urges all parties to to to conflict to comply with their obligations under international law, and calls for investment in age sensitive, gender responsive and survivor centred support, while urging governments to prioritise prevention, ensure accountability and pursue justice for survivors.
Malta also denounces the denial of humanitarian access, and is alarmed by the killing of hundreds of humanitarian workers in conflict settings in 2025.
We call on all parties to ensure rapid, safe, unhindered and sustained humanitarian access and to respect and protect humanitarian personnel in accordance with international law.
We further call upon all parties to conflict to protect schools, hospitals and other civilian infrastructure.
We urge all states to endorse and implement the Safe Schools Declaration and uphold Security Council Resolution 2601.
We also reaffirm our commitment to the Paris Principles, the Vancouver Principles and the Political Declaration on the use of Explosive weapons in populated Areas.
President.
And in conclusion, as we mark the third year of the mandate, Malta once again reaffirms its full support for the Special Representative of the Secretary General, her office and the United Nations mechanisms established to protect children affected by armed conflict.
The findings of the latest Secretary-General's response serve as a warning.
We cannot allow the rules designed to protect children to be ignored, weakened or violated with impunity.
Malta, therefore, calls on all Member States to renew with urgency our collective commitment to stronger protections and more concrete action for children affected by armed conflict.
Failure to do so comes at an unacceptable cost for children and for future generations.
The credibility of the international legal order depends on our willingness to uphold and enforce the rules.
We have collectively agreed to protect children in times of war.
I thank you.
I thank the delegation of Malta for that statement.
I now give the floor to the delegation of El Salvador.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
We are grateful for the convening of this open debate on children and armed conflicts.
We also thank Briefers for presenting the annual report of the Secretary General, and we are grateful for the briefings delivered yesterday, including that of the Special Representative, Vanessa Fraser, president.
30 years after the establishment of the mandate on children and armed conflict, the international community should be able to affirm that children are today more protected than previously.
However, the reality compels us to acknowledge the contrary.
Global trends are deeply alarming.
The Secretary General's report confirms unprecedented levels of grave violations against the rights of children, including killings maiming, recruitment, use, abduction, sexual violence and the denial of humanitarian access, as well as attacks against schools and hospitals.
This reality must immediately stir the political will of the Security Council.
The council cannot simply settle for stating year after year that the situation is worsening.
It must make decisive use of the tools at its disposal to prevent these violations, as well as to demand stringent compliance with international law, promote accountability and ensure that the protection of children is a central and cross-cutting component of all its decisions, mandates and monitoring processes.
President my country wishes to focus its statement on one crucial area the protection of education.
Schools are not only civilian infrastructure protected under international law, they are sacred spaces of learning, protection, coexistence and social reconstruction.
For El Salvador, the comprehensive protection of early childhood, childhood and adolescence is a state priority.
As such, we believe that to guarantee safe school environment is to guarantee the right to a future Our own experience has taught us that the effects of an armed conflict on children do not end with the formal cessation of hostilities.
These effects can continue in the form of family separations, disappearance, the loss of identity, displacement, disrupted education, psychosocial trauma, and the disintegration of these community fabric.
As such, protecting education must also be understood as a guarantee of non-repetition.
To protect a school is to protect the present of a child, but it is also to protect the possibility of building more peaceful societies.
Through this lens, we believe it is necessary to make progress on three specific fronts.
Firstly, international commitments must be underpinned by real and sustainable national capacity.
Achieving that capacity involves strengthening institutions that can protect children, documenting violations, supporting victims and their families, investigating incidents, preserving historic memory and promoting reparation measures.
Secondly, peace processes, ceasefires and humanitarian arrangements must include specific safeguards for children.
And third, international cooperation must bolster national capacity to protect, document, provide redress and prevent historical memory.
The search for missing children, the restoration of identity and comprehensive reparation must also form part of a serious child protection agenda.
President.
We also, however, must look towards emerging risks.
The development of new technologies with military applications including autonomous weapon systems, unmanned vehicles, and the use of artificial intelligence in target selection processes pose new grave challenges for the protection of children.
No technological innovation can justify the reduction of meaningful human control, or a lack of transparency, or the watering down of responsibilities when the lives of children are at stake.
Any and all technologies used in armed in contexts of conflict must fully adhere to international humanitarian law and international human rights law.
At the same time, information and communication technologies, including social media, are being used to recruit, manipulate, exploit and expose children to new forms of violence.
Digital platforms cannot be lawless fora with no accountability.
They must, on the contrary, contribute transparently and through a rights based approach to preventing propaganda.
The capture and exploitation of children by parties to conflicts.
President.
If after 30 years, figures continue to worsen, the response cannot be resignation.
The response must be a more committed, more coordinated and more demanding.
Stringent implementation of commitments.
El Salvador reiterates its commitment to the comprehensive protection of children and urges all parties to conflict, to put an end immediately to all grave violations against children.
Thank you, president.
Gracias.
I thank the delegation of El Salvador for that statement.
I now give the floor to the delegation of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.
Mr.
president, we are grateful to you for your efforts to organise this sensitive debate.
The situation of children affected by armed conflicts represents one of the most grave and urgent humanitarian and protection challenges facing the international community.
Despite the fact that we have an international legal framework that establishes comprehensive protections for children, we are powerless witnesses as we watch persistent and widespread breaches of these norms in myriad theatres of conflict.
Grave violations against children, including recruitment and use of children, attacks against civilians, forced displacement and the denial of access to essential services violates international law and represent a threat to peace, stability and the sustainable development of our societies.
As such, we must make decisive progress with the effective and verifiable implementation of our commitments in order to monitor compliance, prevent violations and bolster accountability.
President, we fully agree that education is a crucial component of the comprehensive protection of children, because education fosters awareness of the importance of warning and prevention against new violations, and that makes children less vulnerable to any form of violence.
Consequently, we encourage member states to share good practices for the protection of educational environments.
We also encourage them to tangibly strengthen cooperation in defence of those that need it most.
It is also equally necessary to ensure that peace processes, special agreements and ceasefires incorporate provisions that specific provisions that is designed to protect schools, teachers and students.
This work must guarantee the civilian nature of educational institutions and facilitate the sustained, safe and non-discriminatory access to education, including in contexts of crisis and displacement.
The protection of children in armed conflicts must be more than a normative aspiration.
It must manifest itself as the effective, impartial and timely implementation of existing international legal obligations We must reaffirm that children enjoy special protection under international law, and that all grave violations of their rights must be prevented, investigated and punished in accordance with applicable legal frameworks.
It is vital to strengthen international cooperation, support for national and international prevention, monitoring, verification and accountability mechanisms.
We must promote the exchange of experiences, the strengthening of international capacities and more effective coordination between various relevant stakeholders.
It is only through sustained collective and.
International law based commitment that we will be able to guarantee that children are protected against armed conflicts, and it's only in that way that we can guarantee them the education, education and the opportunities they deserve.
That's a moral imperative that we must deliver on together.
We must deliver on that with a sense of urgency and humanity.
Thank you.
I thank the delegation of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.
I give the floor to the delegation of Burkina Faso.
The president.
Mr.
President, ladies and gentlemen, members of the Council, I have the honor and the privilege of delivering this statement on behalf of the peoples of Burkina Faso, the Republic of Mali and the Republic of Niger, members of the Confederation of Sahel states.
We commend the Colombian presidency of the Security Council for organising this debate on the protection of children in armed conflict.
On the occasion of the presentation of the corresponding report, the Confederation of Sahel States reaffirms its commitment to the protection of civilian populations.
Including children as well as the right to education in times of crisis.
Indeed, the policies pursued by its member states resonate with the theme of this meeting, namely, strengthening the protection of education and the prevention of grave violations.
Indeed, despite the significant security challenges they face, our states.
Make access to quality education and securing the school environment a priority in keeping with their international commitments and in line with Security Council Resolution 2601 of 2021 on the protection of education in Times of Conflict, a resolution that was adopted at the initiative of the Republic of Niger and Norway.
Who were then members of the Security Council in 2021.
Mr.
president, the report on children in armed conflict should above all, serve the protection of children affected by crises, yet its impact on the ground remains regrettably still limited.
In this context, a reflection on its objectives and preparation process appears necessary.
In response to the growing calls for greater transparency and effectiveness in the working methods of or organisation.
With regard to objectives, the Confederation of Sahel states having faced for more than a decade the terrorist threat questions the relevance of including its member states.
In a report devoted to armed conflicts.
When the challenges they face are primarily those of counter-terrorism.
Furthermore, the terms armed groups, parties to the conflict and pro-government forces appear ill suited to the realities of our countries.
This confusion is all the more concerning, given that certain entities explicitly designated as terrorist organisations by relevant Security Council resolutions are presented in the report as parties to the conflict.
Such a characterization raises legitimate questions as to its scope and its implications.
To the extent that it could be interpreted as conferring a form of recognition or legitimacy on groups whose acts have nonetheless been unanimously condemned by the international community, the Confederation reaffirms the need for rigorous terminology consistent with United Nations instruments and decisions in order to ensure a clear analysis and an accurate understanding of the realities our states face.
Mr.
president, the methodology used to prepare the report also raises significant concerns.
The Confederation regrets that the consultation process does not respect the principle of reciprocity.
The observations of our countries are simply ignored.
Despite their cooperation with the UN.
The occasional discovery of excerpts from the report concerning our countries in hostile media outlets likewise gives rise to legitimate questions.
We consider it essential to prioritize and inclusive approach that ensures states involvement in all stages of the report's preparation, from data collection to validation, in order to guarantee the credibility, integrity and transparency of the process.
Moreover.
The approach adopted should more fully reflect a logic of support and capacity building so as to enable actors to better address all dimensions of violations of children's rights, particularly in the areas of prevention, protection, care and support for victims.
The report should also serve as an educational tool, fostering dialogue and the improvement of good practices, rather than an instrument of stigmatization or punishment.
In this regard, it is regrettable that states engaged in the fight against terrorism and the protection of fundamental rights, notably, children's right to life, are being accused without sufficiently substantiated and verifiable evidence.
Mr.
president, the objectives pursued by the report on violations of children's rights are sufficiently important to justify the full involvement of governments at all stages of the process, as well as prior communication of its content before publication, with effective consideration of governments observations and the efforts that they have undertaken.
In light of all these considerations, and given the shortcomings identified in the process that led to the elaboration of this report, Burkina Faso, the Republic of Mali and the Republic of Niger cannot endorse the conclusions and assessments concerning them contained in the report and wish to express their most serious reservations in this regard.
In any event, the Confederation of Sahel States remains committed to the protection of these populations and of children's rights in the context of the fight against terrorism, and wishes to express its readiness to cooperate with the United Nations on an inclusive and transparent basis.
I thank you.
I thank the delegation of Burkina Faso for that statement I give the floor to Guatemala.
President Guatemala thanks the presidency of Colombia for convening this open debate.
We acknowledge the work of the Special Representative of the Secretary General.
For, as well as the valuable briefings delivered by the Executive Director of Unicef and the civil society representative 30 years after the establishment of this mandate.
The most recent report of the Secretary-General confirms an alarming reality grave violations against children continue to reach unprecedented levels.
This trend demonstrates that international humanitarian law and international human rights law continue to be violated, with devastating consequences for millions of girls and boys.
Guatemala reaffirms that the protection of children is a legal, moral and collective obligation.
The protection of education must remain at the centre of our efforts.
Schools must continue to be safe spaces, free from attack and from military use.
As a member of the Global Coalition to Protect Education from attack, Guatemala considers it a priority to move forward with the effective implementation of the Safe Schools declaration.
The lessons identified during the fifth International Conference on this initiative confirm the need to translate political commitments into tangible protection measures on the ground.
It is also essential to strengthen prevention and response measures that ensure the continuity of education for children and adolescents affected by armed conflict.
This is particularly true in situations of displacement and humanitarian emergency.
There must also be adequate psychosocial support provided and approaches used that are sensitive to the differentiated needs of children.
Guatemala also believes it important to incorporate safeguards for the protection of children and education into national laws, policies and operational practices.
Work should be done to strengthen dialogue and cooperation in order to translate international commitments into concrete actions.
It is also vital to strengthen accountability for violations perpetrated against children, and to complement these efforts with victim centred approaches.
Approaches that promote early reparation of harm, comprehensive recovery and the reintegration of affected children.
President, we must also pay attention to emerging challenges associated with the use of new technologies in armed conflict settings.
We must also.
We must always rather guarantee human control and full respect for international humanitarian law.
Protecting children in armed conflict is a vital prerequisite for preserving peace, security and sustainable development.
Guatemala reiterates its staunch commitment to continuing to support the efforts of the United Nations to ensure that the rights of all girls and boys are respected and protected.
I thank you.
I thank Guatemala for that statement.
I now give the floor to Tajikistan.
Thank you.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
Mr.
president Tajikistan thanks Colombia for convening this important open debate.
We also thank the Secretary General for his annual report on children and armed conflict and our briefers of this session, special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict and Executive Director of Unicef for their efforts to protect children around the globe.
Mr.
president, as a president of Unicef Executive Board in 2025, Tajikistan had the honour of guiding the body's work on behalf of the international community.
That experience reinforced one conviction the United Nations system is irreplaceable when it comes to protecting children in armed conflict.
It must be supported fully, consistently and with adequate resources.
It also deepened our appreciation for what repatriation and reintegration can achieve under the leadership of the President of Tajikistan, His Excellency Emomali Rahmon.
Tajikistan has conducted for repatriation missions since 2019.
More than 380 nationals, including 293 children, have been brought home from Iraq and Syria in close cooperation with Unicef and the ICRC.
All repatriated children have been reunited with their families.
All have been supported in resuming their education and reintegration into civilian life.
We share this experience not as a model, but as a evidence of what political will coordination with the UN and a firm commitment to the best interests of the child can deliver.
Mr.
president, the protection of education must be central to this agenda.
Schools are where children reclaim normalcy after violence.
They are where futures are rebuilt.
One lesson at a time.
Attacks on schools and hospitals, as well as their military use, have devastating consequences for children, depriving them of safety, education and essential services.
Tajikistan calls on all parties to the conflict to respect their obligations under international humanitarian law, and to protect schools and educational settings in all circumstances.
Protecting children in armed conflict is a shared responsibility.
No single actor can do this alone.
What is needed is coherent, coordinated action, stronger national implementation, more consistent reporting, and greater cooperation among all relevant stakeholders, including the United Nations system.
Mr.
president, we also wish to emphasise the importance of integrating child protection into peace processes Ceasefires and transitional justice mechanisms.
The protection of children cannot be an afterthought.
It must be built into every agreement, every negotiation, and every arrangement that seeks to end or manage armed conflict.
Prevention must be prioritised alongside response.
To conclude Mr.
President, as we mark 30 years of this mandate.
One message must be clear the framework exists.
The obligations are agreed.
What is needed now is compliance and a genuine commitment to follow up When compliance falls short.
Children everywhere deserve safety, education and dignity.
That is.
That is a commitment.
This Council must ensure that the international community upholds.
I thank you.
I thank the delegation of Tajikistan.
I now give the floor to the delegation of Uruguay.
Mr.
president, Uruguay thanks the presidency of Colombia for convening this open debate on the issue of children in armed conflict.
Uruguay endorses the statement made by the group of Friends of Children in Armed Conflict, and we are making the following statement in our national capacity.
Uruguay shares the concerns already expressed by the majority of delegations regarding the widespread increases seen in cases of grave violence against children in armed conflicts.
They are ones that once again reached unprecedented levels in 2025, with more than 38,000 grave violations verified.
The information provided in the report does not reflect the magnitude of violations against children, given that access of monitors to affected areas continues to remain a challenge We, moreover, regret the fact that a number of efforts have been made to undermine the independent verification of violations that undermines the Security Council's mandate in terms of monitoring and reporting on grave violations against children.
Despite these challenges, Uruguay is grateful for the work done by the Special Representative of the Secretary General for Children and Armed Conflicts, Miss Vanessa Frazer.
We are grateful to her office.
At the same time we reaffirm the importance of this mandate and of the oversight and reporting mechanisms.
These all allow us to become aware of the harsh reality in this regard.
In 2025 we had the honour of facilitating the resolution on Ceeac, together with Grulac and the European Union.
That resolution extended this important mandate for four more years.
Chair.
Statistics.
Unprecedented statistics indeed have been reported from Israel and the opt.
Particular Gaza in Lebanon, the DRC, Sudan, Myanmar, Mali, Haiti, Somalia, Ukraine and other countries.
That data.
The data from these countries underscore the fact that a tragic reality remains.
Despite the fact that children do not start wars, they suffer from them most greatly.
In total, more than 14,000 children were killed and maimed 8000 were the victims of denial of access to humanitarian assistance, and almost 7000 were recruited.
Schools and hospitals continued to be subject to military attacks, and thousands of children continue to be abducted and the victims of sexual violence and forced labour.
A disproportionate burden here is being placed on the shoulders of children, and that perpetuates cycles of gender inequality.
More specifically, we are concerned by the fact that over half of the total verified violations were perpetrated by governmental stakeholders a, while a almost equivalent percentage, were perpetrated by non-state armed groups.
Violations recorded constitute a violation against international law, including international humanitarian law, and counter the commitments that we have entered into pursuant to the convention on the rights of the child.
Their states agreed to maintain the primary responsibility for protecting, respecting and enforcing the rights of all children, including in situations of armed conflict.
With that in mind, Mr.
President, Uruguay's staunchly condemns violations and abuses against children in these contexts.
Contexts of armed conflict.
That is, we call upon the Security Council and all Member States to take decisive action, to guarantee the protection of children's rights and to prevent and address these grave violations, and to hold perpetrators accountable.
All must also ensure that there is unfettered access to humanitarian assistance elsewhere.
We urge Member States to respect and comply with international standards and treaties that strengthen the protection of children in armed conflict, including the Vancouver Principles and the Safe Schools Declaration, inter alia.
Moreover, we urge all Member States to use their influence and political clout to strengthen, promote and facilitate solutions to armed conflicts.
The safety of children throughout the world and the opportunities for comprehensive development remains an unfulfilled promise.
Promise for as long as armed conflict persists.
Thank you.
I thank the delegation of Uruguay for that statement.
I now give the floor to the delegation of Angola.
President, distinguished members of the Security Council at the outset, Angola congratulates Colombia on convening this timely open debate on children and armed conflict.
We thank the Special Representative of the Secretary General for Children and Armed Conflict for her briefing and welcome the Secretary General Annual Report.
We also thank the other Briefers for their valuable insights.
As the Children and Armed Conflict agenda marks the 30th anniversary.
We acknowledge that the important progress achieved through this mandate, including the release of more than 220,000 children from armed forces and armed groups, and ongoing efforts to secure action plans aimed at ending and preventing grave violations against children.
However, the Secretary General report presents a deeply alarming reality.
Despite a robust normative framework and well-established protection mechanisms, grave violations against children continue to increase.
This trend reflects widespread non-compliance with international humanitarian law, and international human rights law underscores the urgent need to strengthen implementation, accountability and prevention efforts.
Mr.
president, Angola reaffirmed that children affected by armed conflict are entitled to special protection and international and international law.
We unequivocally condemn all grave violations committed against children, including recruitment and use, killing, maiming, rape and other forms of sexual violence, abduction, attacks on schools and hospitals, and denial of humanitarian access.
No child should ever be recruited or used by any party to conflict under any circumstances.
We further underscores the protection of education as an indispensable pillar of child protection and conflict prevention.
Schools must remain safe space for learning, development and hope.
Protecting education not only safeguard children's rights, but also reduce their vulnerability to recruitment, exploitation, displacement and other grave violations while contributing to long term peace and resilience.
Angola's own experience demonstrates that devastating consequences of prolonged conflict on children and the importance of sustained post-conflict recovery.
Our national experience has shown that education, family reunification, psychological support and community based reintegration are essential to restoring the dignity and future prospects of children formerly associated with armed forces and armed groups, and preventing their recruitment.
Guided by these lessons, Angola has prioritized child protection through strengthened social protection systems, reforming juvenile justice, the promotion of safe and inclusive learning environments, and enhanced cooperation with the United Nations Agency and other partners.
These efforts reaffirm our conviction that protecting children and ensuring access to education are fundamental investments in sustained peace and development Mr.
president, we remain deeply concerned by the plight of children in conflict affected regions, particularly in Africa We therefore call for child protection to be systematically integrated into conflict prevention, mediation, peace process, peace building, post-conflict reconstruction and development and disarmament demobilization and reintegration programmes.
We further used member States to strengthen accountability mechanisms, ensure the unconditional release of all children associated with armed forces and armed groups, and invest in comprehensive rehabilitation and reintegration program.
As this agenda ends in the fourth decade, Angola calls on member states, the United Nations, regional organisations and international partners to provide sustained political, technical and financial support to the children and armed conflict agenda.
We must translate our commitments into concrete action and place the protection, well-being and education of children at the centre of international peace and security efforts.
I thank you.
I thank the delegation of Angola for that statement.
I now give the floor to the delegation of Morocco.
Thank you.
President.
Allow me to express the gratitude of the Kingdom of Morocco to the permanent mission of Colombia for organising this essential open debate on children and armed conflict.
Allow me also to congratulate Colombia on its presidency of the Security Council this month.
My delegation also extends its sincere thanks to the Special Representative of the Secretary General for children, Miss Vanessa Frazier.
We also thank the Executive Director of Unicef and the Director of Plan International Haiti for their valuable briefings.
President, nearly three decades have passed since the landmark report by Mrs.
Graca Machel, former Minister of Education of Mozambique and UN expert.
That report for the first time drew the world's attention to the devastating impact of armed conflict on children.
Since then, the international community has built a comprehensive normative framework dedicated to the protection of children in times of war.
This has been bolstered by numerous Security Council resolutions, by international humanitarian law and by international human rights law.
And yet, despite these advances the reality remains deeply troubling.
The Secretary General's report, published last week, is, in this regard, a worrying alarm signal That we cannot ignore.
Mr.
president, the Kingdom of Morocco has long demonstrated its commitment to this cause.
It was among the first states to sign and ratify the optional protocol to the convention on the rights of the child, on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict.
The Kingdom has also subscribed to the Paris Principles and Commitments, the Vancouver Principles and the Safe Schools Declaration.
These commitments reflect Morocco's conviction that children must never be instruments of conflict.
On the contrary, they must be supported in becoming agents of peace, development and resilience.
Morocco calls for strengthened international cooperation in order to prevent recruitment, increase accountability for perpetrators of grave violations, support rehabilitation and reintegration programmes for children and guarantee that humanitarian actors have safe and unimpeded access to affected populations.
Allow me to conclude with a truth that is simple yet profound.
The fate of children in today's conflicts will shape the peace and security of tomorrow.
Every child protected from violence, every school kept open, every family reunited, every future preserved brings humanity step by step and inevitably closer to peace.
As Eglantyne Jebb, founder of Save the Children, observed and I quote, every war is a war against children.
End of quote.
Let us therefore put an end to these wars waged against those who are the leaders of tomorrow, indeed the future of tomorrow.
Let us make the protection of our children not only a moral imperative, but a national obligation and a central pillar of our collective action for the maintenance of international peace and security.
Thank you.
I thank the delegation of Morocco.
I now give the floor to the delegation of Armenia.
Mr.
president, Armenia thanks the presidency of Colombia for convening this open debate.
We also express our gratitude and support to the Special Representative of the Secretary General for Children and Armed Conflict, Miss Vanessa Frazer, and the Executive Director of Unicef, Miss Catherine Russell, for their comprehensive statements.
We are deeply worried by the alarming picture presented in the Secretary General's latest report on children and armed conflict, which records unprecedented levels of grave violations against children in armed conflict in 2025.
The continued killing and maiming of children attacks on schools and hospitals, incitement to hate, recruitment, indoctrination and use of children, abductions and denial of humanitarian access represents a profound failure to uphold the protection to children under international humanitarian and human rights law.
Particularly concerning is the sustained pattern of attack against educational facilities.
Schools must remain safe spaces for learning, development and protection against attacks on education not only endangered children's lives and well-being but also deprived them of opportunities for development and undermine prospects for sustainable peace and recovery.
As a state party to all international instruments on the rights of the child, Armenia remains steadfast in fulfilling its international obligations.
We have further reinforced our commitment through the endorsement of the Safe Schools Declaration, Paris Principles and the Vancouver Principles.
In recent years, Armenia has faced significant humanitarian challenges in hosting more than 115,000 refugees, including over 36,000 children.
Nearly 17,000 refugee children have been integrated into public schools and provided with educational and psychological support.
Through close cooperation with Unicef and Unesco, Armenia has strengthened child protection responses and facilitated the inclusion of refugee children in the education system.
Building on the understanding that protecting education requires more than safeguarding schools from physical attacks, Armenia initiated the General Assembly resolution education for peace, adopted without a vote earlier this month and co-sponsored by around 100 member states.
The resolution recognises the important role of education in fostering a culture of peace and non-violence, combating racism, xenophobia and hate, and promoting respect for diversity and human dignity.
These principles are particularly relevant in conflict and post-conflict settings, where education can contribute to reconciliation, social cohesion and sustainable peace while helping prevent the recurrence of violence and figure grave violations against children.
Mr.
president, summing up the current situation, uh, I would like to highlight the importance of the mandate of the Special Representative of the Secretary General for Children and Armed Conflict in Advancing the Children and Armed conflict agenda across the UN system and fostering cooperation with regional organisations, civil society and other relevant stakeholders to strengthen the protection of children and support effective implementation on the ground.
I thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you I thank the delegation of Armenia and give the floor to Czechia.
Well, Mr.
President, I would like to thank the Secretary-General for his report and all the Briefers for their important contributions and commitment to the protection of children affected by armed conflict.
The findings of this year's report are once again deeply alarming, with the number of verified grave violations against children reaching a record high.
Particularly concerning is the finding that for the first time since monitoring began three decades ago, violations attributed to government forces represented a larger share than those committed by non-state armed groups.
We strongly condemn all grave violations against children.
We are deeply concerned by the situation of children in the conflicts highlighted in the Secretary-General's report, including Gaza and Sudan, where they continue to face severe humanitarian conditions as well as in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nigeria, Myanmar and elsewhere.
The Czech Republic is particularly concerned by the continued grave violations committed by the Russian Federation against children in Ukraine.
We condemn attacks on civilian infrastructure, schools and hospitals, as well as the unlawful deportation and transfer of Ukrainian children.
We are also concerned by efforts to subject Ukrainian children in temporarily occupied territories to indoctrination and forced assimilation through educational programmes.
Education should never be used as a tool to erase identity or undermine children's rights.
Such actions are unacceptable and must be addressed in full accordance with international law.
Mr.
president, accountability remains essential.
All perpetrators of grave violations against children must be held accountable.
We call on all parties to comply with their obligations under international humanitarian and human rights law, protect children and engage constructively with the United Nations, including through the implementation of action plans.
At the same time, we must invest in the future of conflict affected children.
Education is not only a fundamental right, but also a vital shield against violence, exploitation and child recruitment.
The Czech Republic supports education and emergencies programmes that help children continue learning in situations of conflict and forced displacement to ensure their long term impact, particularly in protection in protracted crises.
We need stronger and more predictable financing across the humanitarian development peace nexus.
We remain a steadfast supporter of the UN monitoring and Reporting Mechanism and the children and armed conflict agenda as a whole.
The Security Council must continue to make full use of the tools at its disposal to prevent violations, promote accountability and strengthen the protection of children in conflict.
Let us be clear no child should should ever become a target in armed conflict.
The suffering described in the Secretary-General's report demands our sustained attention and concrete action.
I thank you, Mr.
President.
I thank the delegation of Czechia for that statement.
I now give the floor to the delegation of Mali.
Madam president, members of the council, the delegation of Mali aligns itself with the statement delivered this morning by the Permanent Representative of Burkina Faso on behalf of the Confederation of Sahel states.
My national capacity.
I thank the Colombian presidency of the Security Council for organising this open debate on children in armed conflict, which is the subject of the Secretary General's report under consideration, and I thank the Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict and the Executive Director of Unicef to their contribution for their contributions to this debate.
I would like to begin by recalling that the government of the Republic of Mali remains profoundly and wholly committed to the protection of civilian populations, particularly children and other vulnerable persons, including in the context of the fight against terrorism.
This commitment to human rights, notwithstanding crises and conflicts, is notably enshrined in the UN charter, also known as the Charter of Charanga Fuga, which as early as 1236, I repeat, 1236.
The year 1236 governed political, administrative and social relations on the basis of essential human rights values in our societies.
The Sg's report under consideration calls for two major observations on our part.
The first is as follows.
In his report, the Secretary General commends the continued cooperation of the Malian authorities with the United Nations and welcomes the determination of the Malian government to protect children.
We welcome this positive assessment, but we would wish for this cooperation to be reciprocal, particularly with regard to the transparent collection and analysis of data in accordance with the principle of the right to a fair hearing that allows our states to submit observations on passages of the report prior to its publication.
Indeed, if the report is in fact intended to help countries in conflict situations better respect human rights, particularly the rights of children, it is essential to improve communication mechanisms between the Special Representative of the Secretary General for Children and Armed Conflict and the States concerned.
One sided reports, unsubstantiated allegations, politicization and the selective exploitation of data do not serve the noble objectives of this mechanism.
My second and final observation concerns the working methods of the office of the Srsg.
It is true that in the report, the vast majority of cases of violence against children in Mali are attributed to terrorist groups and other criminal groups, namely the Jnim, the Isgs, the CCMAFLAMNLA coalition Katiba Messina, Katiba Serma and others.
However, it is regrettable that the Sg's report continues to provide data of a very vague nature regarding the cases of violations attributed to Mali's defence and security forces.
This is regrettable because in the absence of specifics regarding the dates, locations, victims, witnesses or the alleged perpetrators or units responsible for these violations, it is impossible for our competent national authorities to conduct appropriate investigations and to take whatever measures may be required.
It should be noted that pursuant to the relevant provisions of the Protocol of July 1st, 2013, the Malian authorities systematically transfer children associated with armed groups to the technical services responsible for child welfare.
Furthermore, I wish to reaffirm the commitment of the Government of Mali to honouring its obligations under the convention on the rights of the child and its Optional protocol on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict, as well as the Safe Schools Declaration.
In addition, with a view to strengthening the National Child Protection Framework, the Government of Mali is continuing its work on a draft child protection plan and a draft law criminalizing the recruitment and use of child soldiers.
In conclusion, Mali, like the other two member states of the Confederation of Sahel states, remains determined to honour its history and its national and international commitments with regard to the promotion and protection of children's rights including in the context of the fight against terrorism.
I thank you.
Thank you.
You're welcome.
I now give the floor to the delegation of Nepal.
I thank the presidency of Colombia for convening this important debate on children and armed conflict.
I also thank the Special Representative of the Secretary and the distinguished Briefers for their valuable insight.
Mr.
president, 30 years ago, the international community pledged to protect every child from devastating consequences of war and to uphold their rights, dignity and future.
Today, that promise is under severe strain.
The Secretary General's recent report shows that grave violations against children continue to rise, and that our collective response remains far from sufficient.
It reminds us that protecting children is our shared responsibility.
It also calls upon the international community to reinforce prevention, enhance accountability, and place the rights and dignity of children at the centre of our peace and security commitments.
Protecting children is not only a moral imperative.
It is a legal obligation and a prerequisite for a stable, just and peaceful society.
Mr.
president, in this backdrop, allow me to highlight a few points.
First, all parties to armed conflict must fully respect their obligations under international law, including relevant Security Council resolutions on children and armed conflict.
Grave violations, killing and maiming recruitment and use.
Abduction sexual violence, attacks on schools and hospitals, and denial of humanitarian access must end.
Second, the protection of education must be a collective priority.
Schools must never be attacked or used for military purposes.
We call for wider implementation of schools, a zone of peace and stronger national measures to safeguard education and ensure uninterrupted learning.
Third, national implementation monitoring and accountability mechanisms must be strengthened Effective protection requires sound legal frameworks.
Reliable data, early warning, child sensitive reporting and accountability mechanisms for monitoring and reporting mechanisms under resolution 1612.
Remains indispensable and must be fully supported.
Fourth child protection must be systematically integrated into peace proposals, ceasefire arrangements, humanitarian frameworks and transitional justice mechanisms, including during mission transitions.
Fifth, greater international cooperation is needed to reinforce education, health and social protection systems in conflict affected settings.
Investment in resilient services, psycho social support reintegration programs, and community based protections is vital for children's recovery.
Finally, prevention must remain central, addressing root causes advancing preventive diplomacy, strengthening mediations, and promoting inclusive peace building are essential to avert worse and steal children from the horrors of war.
Mr.
president, Nepal remains firmly committed to advancing the rights and protections of children as a state party to the convention on the rights of the Child and Optional Protocol We have enshrined children's rights as a fundamental rights in our constitutions and strengthened national laws to prevent violence, exploitation and abuse during our own peace process.
Nepal underscores the importance of early rehabilitation and reintegration of conflict affected children and safeguarding schools.
A Zone of Peace is one of the largest troop and police contributing countries to the United Nations peace operations.
Nepal remains committed to upholding child protection mandates and supporting host nations in building national capacities to prevent and respond to violent violations.
In conclusion, Mr.
President, every grave violations against a child represents a failure of our collective responsibility.
Let us reaffirm our commitment to international law, protect education, ensure accountability, and invest in prevention and recovery.
I thank you.
I thank the delegation of Nepal.
I give the floor to the delegation of Kyrgyzstan.
President, let me join other speakers in thanking the Colombian presidency for convening this important open debate.
We also thank the Secretary General.
He is Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, Unicef and other civil society Briefers for their valuable contributions.
The Secretary General's report reminds us that the children continue to bear a heavy burden in a situation of armed conflict.
Every child has the right to live in safety, to receive an education, and to grow up with the hope and dignity.
Children should never be drawn into conflict or deprived of their future.
Their protection is a shared responsibility of the international community.
President, the protection of children is a national priority for my country.
Our country continues to strengthen its legal and institutional framework for the rights and well-being of children.
The child called provides the foundation for protecting children from violence, abuse, exploitation and neglect.
We are working to improve coordination among state bodies local authorities, schools, health care, health care services and social protection institutions.
Particular attention is given to prevention, early identification of risks, support for vulnerable families and access to child friendly services.
Strong families, safe schools and effective school social services help prevent violence and build social, peaceful societies.
President Kyrgyzstan supports international efforts to protect the children affected by armed conflict.
We are party to the convention on the rights of the child and its optional protocol.
We cooperate closely with the UN, Unicef and other international regional partners We also support international regional initiatives aimed at preventing violence against children, strengthening the child protection system and promoting peace, tolerance and social cohesion.
As a member of the Security Council starting next year, Kyrgyzstan is committed to support the balanced, practical and cooperative approach.
We will promote preventive diplomacy, dialogue, mediation and peaceful settlement of disputes We will support efforts to safeguard education, strengthen the child protection capacity and ensure that the needs of children are considered in the peace process and post-conflict recovery.
President Security Council has developed an important framework for the protection of children.
The priority should not be consistent and effective implementation.
In close cooperation with national authorities and UN partners, national efforts should be supported through capacity building, technical assistance, reliable data, and adequate resources.
Child protection considerations should be integrated, where appropriate, into peacekeeping operations.
Special political missions, mediation efforts, and peace building programs.
Kyrgyzstan has also gained a positive national experience in supporting and reintegrating children returning from conflict affected zones.
This work is carried out with a strong focus on the best interests of child rehabilitation, education, health care and social adaptation.
We believe that the children affected by conflict need protection, carry and chance to rebuild their lives in safety and dignity.
Protection protecting children means protecting our common future.
Kyrgyzstan will continue to support practical cooperation so that every child can live, learn and grow in peace.
I thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
I thank Kyrgyzstan, I give the floor to South Africa.
Okay.
Is it okay? Okay.
Thank you very much, Mr.
President.
Allow me to begin by thanking the Colombian presidency of the Security Council for convening this open debate on the plight of the most vulnerable in the context of armed conflict, and at the same time, express gratitude to the Special Representative and other briefers for their illuminating reports.
In the face of unwarranted attacks, South Africa expresses its full support to S G Frazier and the work of her office.
Children are the most vulnerable members of society and are afforded special protections under international humanitarian law, but they continue to experience the flagrant disregard of these fundamental obligations.
It is imperative that international law and standards be respected in relation to children, and specifically, that the UN Security Council takes urgent action to hold those accountable for any violations through the working Group on Children and Armed Conflict.
Mr.
president, the international community has developed several frameworks and conventions that determine the conditions, conduct and execution of warfare with a view to protecting civilians and catering for their humanitarian needs.
South Africa remains deeply concerned that perpetrators continue to flaunt these provisions and actively harm children despite these frameworks.
We must promote the protection of children through the pursuit of peaceful resolution to conflicts and ultimately address the root causes of conflict.
Mr.
president, reports of a 10% increase in killings and a 43% increase in maiming of children are deeply distressing.
We remain deeply concerned by the gross violations in the DRC, Lebanon, Haiti and other cases referenced in the report.
The starkest example of all six grave violations being perpetrated is the unfolding genocide in Gaza.
The continued upward trend in grave violations in 2025 is mostly attributed to this unfolding conflict.
The data contained in the report also demonstrates a continuous disregard and violation of international law by Israeli forces.
It is indeed deeply concerning that the evidence reflects a disproportionate amount of force that is impossible to justify through any semblance of self-defence.
The continued disregard for the lives of Palestinians is demonstrated by the acts of the Israeli Defence Forces and its disdain for the lives of its children, whose innocence is beyond reproach.
These children bear the brunt of unprecedented and disproportionate targeted attacks by the Israeli occupying power.
Of the 12,445 grave violations that occurred in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories, only a handful nine occurred in Israel Israel acts have become more egregious with sexual violence as a method of torture while children are imprisoned.
South Africa condemns these violations and the use of indiscriminate violence against the Palestinian population.
There must be accountability for these actions.
Mr.
president, in conclusion, we wish to stress that the burden of upholding obligations under international law not only rests with states and their governments, but it is also a collective responsibility.
We wish to advocate for accountability from states and other actors that violate this law.
We see this as an indictment on the international community's failure to protect its most vulnerable members of society.
Children belong in classrooms and on playgrounds, and not in conflict zones.
I thank you.
I thank the delegation of South Africa.
I give the floor to the delegation of the Philippines.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
The Philippines thanks, Colombia for convening this open debate on children in armed conflict.
We also thank the Secretary-General, the Special Representative and the Briefers for their insights.
The Philippines remains guided by our belief that safeguarding children is essential for peace and development.
In 2025, the Philippines was successfully delisted from the Secretary General's Report on Children in Armed Conflict.
This marked the culmination of comprehensive state efforts to address the threat posed by non-state armed groups that sought to exploit vulnerable minors.
We view the listing not as an end point, but as a milestone in further strengthening prevention, protection, monitoring and accountability mechanisms.
Earlier this month, the Philippines, together with Unicef and the office of the Special Representative, convened the workshop in Marlin in Manila to assess assess progress in implementing the Philippine Roadmap of Commitments for the protection of children in situations of armed conflict.
The workshop was a useful mechanism to take stock of developments and sustain the gains achieved.
We stand ready to work with a special representative and partners to share our national experiences and good practices with other countries.
In a spirit of south, south and triangular cooperation.
Mr.
president, the Philippines places particular importance on the protection of schools and educational settings.
Our special Protection of Children in Situations of Armed Conflict Act prohibits attacks against schools and hospitals, and protects children's as zones of peace from being recruited, used or exposed to hostilities.
The law reaffirms the need to ensure continued access to education for children affected by armed conflict.
In this context, the government works with local authorities, educators and communities to support the continuity of education and create learning environments where children can develop in safety and dignity, including through localized alternative learning tracks.
Mr.
president, in conclusion, as we approach the 30th anniversary of the Children in Armed Conflict mandate in 2027, we must focus on implementation The Philippines encourages all stakeholders to strengthen national and collective efforts to protect schools, students and teachers from the effects of armed conflict and to ensure that education remains accessible, safe and uninterrupted for all children.
Thank you.
I thank the delegation of the Philippines for that statement.
I now give the floor to the delegation of the Republic of Moldova.
President excellencies, distinguished members of the Security Council, the Republic of Moldova thanks Colombia for convening this timely and important debate on strengthening the protection of children and education in armed conflict.
We also express our gratitude to the distinguished Briefers, the Special Representative of the Secretary General for children, Mrs.
Vanessa Fraser Initiative, the Executive Director, Mrs.
Catherine Russell, and Plan International Haiti Country Director, for their presentations on the matter.
My delegation aligns itself with the statement of the European Union and wishes to add the following in its national capacity.
President, despite a robust international legal framework, grave violations against children and educational infrastructure continue to occur in conflicts around the world.
In this regard, we recall the relevant UN Security Council resolutions on children and armed conflicts which establish and strengthen the normative framework for the protection of children from grave violations, including attacks on schools and the denial of access to education.
We further recall the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly, including those adopted in its 11th emergency Special Session on Ukraine, and which condemned the unlawful deportation and forceful forcible transfer of civilians, including children, and call for their safe return.
However, despite enjoying special protection under international humanitarian law and international human rights law, children in Ukraine continue to suffer the devastating consequences of Russian aggression, hundreds of them being killed, thousands of schools damaged or destroyed, and millions of Ukrainian children being interrupted from their normal education, and tens of thousands unlawfully deported to forcibly transferred to Russia.
The Republic of Moldova strongly condemns the unlawful deportation and forced transfer of Ukrainian children, as well as practices of indoctrination, militarisation, re-education and attempts to alter their citizenship, name, language, culture, national identity and family ties.
Respect for this, elements of identity are essential for well-being, development and dignity of a child.
Efforts to raise or replace them undermine internationally recognised standards for child protection, and have long lasting consequences for children and their communities.
Besides legal instruments, we reaffirm the importance of international efforts and coalitions dedicated to identifying, protecting and securing the return of Ukrainian children.
As a member of International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children, Moldova remains committed to these efforts and in 2026, concluded a bilateral agreement with Ukraine to support their return We also reiterate that schools and educational infrastructure must never be targeted.
The continued attack against educational and cultural infrastructure in Ukraine are unacceptable.
Education is not only a fundamental right, but also a source of resilience, recovery and prevention of future conflicts.
Children must have safe and uninterrupted access to education, including to their own language.
Since the beginning of the war, the Republic of Moldova has continued to host and support Ukrainian children by providing access to protection services, education, health care and psychological assistance, while also ensuring opportunities to continue studies in Ukrainian language while preserving cultural identity and links with their communities.
We support the strengthening of international monitoring, reporting and accountability mechanisms on grave violations against children in armed conflicts, and call upon the international community to intensify efforts to protect children, including through increased support for humanitarian, educational and psychological programs and through the full implementation of international legal obligations.
The Republic of Moldova stands with the children of Ukraine and remains ready to contribute to their protection, recovery, education psychological rehabilitation and safe return.
We will continue to support efforts aimed at reuniting every child with their family and community and safeguarding their rights, identity and future not only as a legal and moral obligation, but as an investment in peace, security and the reconstruction of societies affected by war.
I thank you.
I thank the delegation of the Republic of Moldova for that statement.
I now give the floor to the delegation of Romania.
Senor Presidente, thank you for organising this timely debate.
Testimonies on the situation of children in armed conflict around the world are staggering They cast a deep shadow of our efforts to mark 30 years since.
Since the establishment of the Children in Armed Conflict mandate.
Today, even after decades of robust normative development, the Security Council yet again debates a report which draws attention to unprecedented, unprecedented levels of harm.
Yet again, we acknowledged together the highest number of children affected by grave violations since the establishment of the mandate.
President for Romania, the issue is not abstract, not least because one of the civilian victims of the Russian drone that exploded over an apartment building in Romania in May of this year, of which the Romanian foreign minister informed the council earlier this month was a minor.
Last year, the UN General Assembly conveyed a clear message on the situation of Ukrainian children who have been unlawfully transferred or deported to Russia, and on the imperative of respecting the universal and inalienable right of every child to live in safety with their family, including during an armed conflict and occupation as enshrined in international law.
As a member of the International Coalition of the Return of Ukrainian Children, Romania will continue to contribute to the efforts to return those Ukrainian children who have been unlawfully deported or forcibly transferred.
Our delegation has constantly informed the council about Romania's efforts in support of Ukrainian children and their families that found refuge in our country following the war of aggression started by Russia against Ukraine.
Our National Action Plan of Measures for the protection and Inclusion of Displaced Persons of Ukraine for the provision of Provides for the provision of accommodation, shelter, education and youth services, healthcare, social protection and is specifically oriented towards offering a safe and stable environment for the affected children and their families.
In the same vein of responsibility, we have kept this council updated of our medical evacuation of children injured in the conflict of Gaza and their family members, and of their treatment in Romanian hospitals.
President, apart from this specific mandate, the Romanian government has endorsed and supports the full implementation of other documents that together constitute a toolbox for the protection of children in conflict.
The Paris Principles, the Safe Schools Declaration, the Vancouver Principles, and the explosive weapons in populated areas.
Political declaration.
We are firm in our belief that even against the backdrop background of geopolitical transformations and diminishing resources, all member states must consistently uphold their fundamental international humanitarian law and human rights obligations in relation to children during armed conflict.
They must strengthen national accountability mechanisms and review their security and military doctrines, planning actions and operations with an explicit view to ensuring that child specific impacts are systematically considered and addressed in all stages of conflict.
No strategic advancement, no gains, and no victory can be achieved by causing harm to children, either deliberately or otherwise.
Muchas gracias, Senor Presidente.
I thank the delegation of Romania for that statement.
I give the floor to the delegation of Iraq.
Mr.
president, I would like to thank the presidency of the Council for convening this open debate, which coincides with the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the United Nations mandate on children in armed conflict.
Iraq underscores the importance of special protection afforded by international humanitarian law and international human rights law given to children affected by armed conflict.
We stress the need to to strengthen the protection of education as a fundamental pillar to prevent grave violations.
The alarming figures contained in the Secretary-General's latest report demonstrate unprecedented levels of violations perpetrated against children.
These figures show that the attacks on schools and educational institutions do not only target infrastructure, but also target the future of children, their dignity and the right to development.
Therefore schools must remain safe havens that allow children to learn and to grow.
Iraq, and for many years has suffered from terrorism and conflict.
Iraq fully recognises the importance of adopting a comprehensive approach that is based on prevention, protection and rehabilitation.
In this context Iraq has adopted the National policy for the prevention of the recruitment of children and minors by terrorist groups for the period covering 2024 to 2029.
This national policy is based on preventive security and remedial pillars.
It also provides protection for displaced children and those residing in camps and refugee settlements.
It contributes to safeguarding them from exploitation and recruitment and towards reintegrating them into society and within the framework of strengthening implementation and follow up.
A monitoring and reporting committee was established to oversee the implementation of the Joint Action Plan between Iraq and the UN on preventing the recruitment of children into the armed Forces.
The Government of Iraq has fulfilled all of the commitments set out in the Action plan.
Our national efforts in the field of preventing and rehabilitating, preventing the recruitment of children and rehabilitating them have yielded tangible progress, culminating in Iraq's removal from the list of countries violating children's rights.
In the latest report of the Secretary General's report.
In this context, the former Special Representative of the Secretary General for Children Armed Conflict visited Iraq, and she viewed the measures taken to prevent child recruitment.
Her report, submitted to the secretary general, confirmed Iraq's fulfilment of its commitments in this regard.
Mr.
president, Iraq believes that translating international commitments into tangible results requires strengthening cooperation between states.
The United Nations and all relevant partners.
It involves integrating child protection measures into peace processes and ceasefire agreements, and enhancing monitoring and accountability mechanisms mechanisms.
It also aims to ensure continued access to safe and inclusive education, while taking into account the diverse impacts of armed forces on armed conflict on children.
I thank you.
I thank the delegation of Iraq for that statement.
I give the floor to the delegation of Trinidad and Tobago.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the 14 member states of the Caribbean community, Caricom.
Caricom commends Colombian's presidency of the Security Council for the month of June and for convening today's debate with a timely focus on reasserting international legal protection for children in armed conflict, strengthening the protection of education and the prevention of grave violations.
The Secretary General's 2025 report of an unprecedented level of grave violations against children in armed conflict must not only raise alarm, but galvanise action.
At the centre of our efforts must be insistence on respect for international law, including international humanitarian law and international human rights law, and ensuring that children enjoy the full spectrum of rights enshrined in the convention on the rights of the child, including the protection and care of those affected by armed conflict.
Sadly, the promise made by member States in the UN charter to protect successive generations from the scourge of war is being broken with impunity.
It is of particular concern that in the 2025, government forces were responsible for the majority of grave violations against children and were the main perpetrators of the killing and maiming of children.
Attacks on schools and hospitals, and the denial of humanitarian access.
The international community must be consistent in condemning all violations and abuses of children and insist on accountability.
We have seen how impunity is emboldening perpetrators and contributing to further violations.
National and international justice systems must be strengthened and investigations and prosecutions scaled up.
Caricom calls on the Security Council to utilise all the tools at its disposal for the protection of children affected by conflict, including sanctions, where appropriate.
President.
Once again, the grave violation of verified in the greatest numbers was the killing and maiming of children, with the number of children killed increasing by an alarming 34% in 2025 compared to 2024.
Caricom is deeply concerned by the devastating impacts of the use of advanced military technologies on children, including unmanned systems and artificial intelligence, often used without adequate human oversight.
We call on armed forces to comply with their obligations under I l in relation to the principles of distinction and proportionality for yet another year.
Attacks on schools and education facilities and their military use resulted in millions of children being denied their rights to education, with potential long term negative consequences for them, including increased susceptibility to recruitment and exploitation in our own region.
Widespread gang violence in Haiti is causing mounting education losses for children.
Hundreds of schools remain closed, with reports of some 1.5 million children across Haiti were out of school in 2025, or at immediate risk of dropping out.
The secretary general reports that in 2025, there were 99 verified attacks on schools and 136 schools were subject to military use by armed gangs in Haiti.
A direct impact of this has been the surge in recruitment and use of children, estimated by Unicef to be a staggering 200% more in 2025.
We urge member States to join and fulfil their commitments under the Safe Schools Declaration to prioritize adequate funding for education and to ensure schools remain safe and operational.
President, as we engage under the UN initiative towards a more efficient organisation, we must ensure that reform is not detrimental to the protection of children.
The Children and Armed Conflict Framework, including its monitoring and reporting mechanisms and child protection systems, must be adequately resourced.
In closing, I reaffirm Caricom's full support for the mandate of the Special Representative of the Secretary General for Children and Armed Conflict, and our commitment to working with all partners to uphold the rights and ensure the protection of all children.
I thank you, gracias.
I thank the delegation of Trinidad and Tobago.
I give the floor to the delegation of Montenegro.
Mr.
president Montenegro aligns itself with the statement delivered by European Union.
We would like to thank Colombia for convening this important debate and express our appreciation to the Briefers for their insightful presentations, which reminds us of the devastating reality faced by children affected by armed conflicts.
The latest report on Ckac presents a deeply alarming picture.
In 2025, the UN verified the highest number of grave violations against children since the establishment of the Ckac mandate, affecting more than 24,000 children.
Behind these figures are children whose lives have been marked by violence, trauma and displacement.
This discussion rightly underscores the importance of protecting education in situations of armed conflicts.
Schools must remain safe spaces where children can learn, develop and maintain a sense of normalcy, even in conflicts.
When schools are attacked or used for military purposes.
Children lose not only access to education, but an important layer of protection as well.
The consequences can last for a lifetime, affecting their well-being, development and future opportunities.
We remain particularly particularly concerned by the continued attacks against educational facilities in Ukraine and the devastating impact on the war of the War on children.
We also remain deeply concerned about the situation in Gaza, Sudan and other conflict affected contexts where children continue to face grave violations.
We reiterate the importance of ensuring the safe and unconditional return of all children unlawfully deported or forcibly transferred in line with the international law and relevant UN resolutions.
Accountability remains essential.
All parties to conflict must fully comply with international law, and those responsible for grave violations against children must be held accountable.
We are also concerned by the growing use of explosive weapons in populated areas, as well as new technologies, including drones and AI enabled systems.
As highlighted in the Secretary General's report, these developments are increasing the risk to children and creating new challenges for the protection of civilians.
Montenegro also supports the Safe School declaration and believes that its effective implementation can make a meaningful difference in protecting children and preserving access to education during armed conflict.
Mr.
president, as we mark the 30th anniversary of the CEC mandate, we should also recognise the progress achieved.
Thousands of children have been released from armed forces and armed groups, and provided with protection and reintegration support, demonstrating that sustained international engagement can make a real difference.
Protecting children is not only a humanitarian imperative, it is an investment in lasting peace.
We must redouble our efforts to ensure that every child can learn in safety, growing dignity and enjoy the protection to which they are entitled.
Thank you.
Gracias.
I thank the delegation of Montenegro.
I gave the floor to the delegation of Georgia.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the presidency of Colombia for convening today's important open debate on children and armed conflict.
I also wish to thank all the distinguished prefers for their valuable insights.
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the adoption of General Assembly Resolution 5177, which established the mandate on the children and armed conflict.
We attach great importance to this agenda and highly value the work of the office of the Special Representative of the Secretary General in advancing the protection of children affected by armed conflict.
Mr.
president, Georgia remains deeply concerned by the devastating and disproportionate impact of armed conflict on children who are among the most vulnerable victims of war and are entitled to special protection under international humanitarian law and international human rights law.
Armed conflicts continue to deprive children of their fundamental rights, including the right to life, education, health and family unity while exposing them to grave violations such as killing and maiming, abduction, sexual violence, displacement, exploitation and severe psychological distress.
The protection of children affected by armed conflict remains an urgent responsibility of the international community, and requires sustained commitment to prevention, accountability and the full implementation of relevant international norms and legal obligations.
In this regard, let me draw your attention to the dire humanitarian and human rights situation in the territories of Georgia, Abkhazia and regions which remain illegally occupied by Russia.
There are.
Children continue to bear the consequences of Russia's military aggression.
The pressure exerted on ethnic Georgians residing in these occupied regions, as well as persistent human rights violations and ethnic discrimination, creates serious risks of further displacement and insecurity.
Conflict affected children in the occupied regions continue to face various human rights violations, including restrictions on freedom of movement, limited access to health care services, and the denial of education in their native Georgian language.
These circumstances once again underscore the urgent need for unhindered access for international and regional human rights monitoring mechanisms to both illegally occupied regions of Georgia.
Mr.
president, in our wider region, Russia's ongoing aggression against Ukraine continues to have a profound and lasting impact on the safety, well-being and future of children, exposing them to displacement, trauma, family separation and other grave risks.
We support the objectives of the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children and commend the Bringing Kids Back initiative for its comprehensive approach to ensuring the safe return, reintegration and psychological recovery of affected children.
As we discussed the protection of children.
Allow me to note that Georgia has welcomed up to 2500 Ukrainian students into its education system to support the continuity of their education.
Ukrainian language sections have been established in Georgia, enabling children to continue learning in their native Ukrainian language.
These efforts reflect Georgia's steadfast commitment to supporting the children of Ukraine and safeguarding their future.
Unfortunately, children continue to suffer numerous conflicts around the world.
Georgia reiterates its strong commitment to collective efforts aimed at protecting children affected by armed conflict everywhere, and ensuring that no child is left behind.
We must continue to strengthen accountability, safeguard access to education and healthcare, and ensure that rights and best interests of children remain at the centre of our efforts to build sustainable peace.
I thank you.
I thank the delegation of Georgia.
I now give the floor to the delegation of Sierra Leone.
Thank you, Mr.
President Sierra Leone commends the presidency of Colombia for convening this open debate.
And thanks the Special Representative of the Secretary General for her steadfast work.
We are alarmed by the Secretary-General's Annual Report, which remains an indispensable instrument of accountability for this Council Sierra Leone firmly opposes the goals and principles of this agenda.
As we mark its 30th anniversary, we reaffirm that protecting children is not merely a legal obligation.
It is a prerequisite for peace, security and sustainable development.
The Secretary-General's report admits no equivocation.
38,558 grave violations verified against 24,174 Children, the highest since the Mandate's inception.
Killing and maiming surged by 34 and 10%, respectively.
These figures are a tragic verdict on the conduct of parties to conflict, and on the credibility of the legal framework we are convened to reaffirm.
We, therefore call upon all parties to engage constructively with the monitoring and reporting mechanism, and to bring an immediate end to all grave violations against children.
Attacks on schools constitute one of the six grave violations this council has designated as warranting its most serious concern.
Yet the Secretary-General's report continues to document verified attacks on, and military use of schools across numerous conflict situations.
International humanitarian law is unambiguous.
Schools are protected civilian objects.
The Security Council Resolution 2601 of 2021, the Safe Schools Declaration and the Vancouver Principles further reinforce these protections.
Sierra Leone urges all states that have not yet endorsed the Safe Schools Declaration to do so without delay, and calls upon all parties to conflict, to refrain at all times from transforming educational institutions into military assets or rendering them objects of attack.
We speak not only from principle, but from experience.
Our free quality school education programme embodies the conviction that access to education is among the most effective instruments for preventing violence and sustaining durable peace.
We stand in firm solidarity with every child in every conflict affected setting, who is today denied the right to learn in safety.
Mr.
president, Sierra Leone continues to translate this commitment into concrete multilateral action.
In 2022, we led the General Assembly in adopting the resolution establishing the International Day for the Prevention of Violence Against Children, observed annually on 18th of November, an affirmation that violence against children in any form and in any context is wholly unacceptable.
We are building on that foundation.
In the current session of the General Assembly, Sierra Leone intends to submit a draft resolution to the General Assembly proposing the proclamation of an international day to end child marriage.
As the Secretary General's report makes clear, girls in conflict settings face acute and compounded risk of forced marriage alongside other grave violations.
Child marriage in conflict or in peace extinguishes a girls access to education, to health, and to her own future.
This initiative forms part of a coherent normative continuum, from the prevention of violence against children to the eradication of child marriage.
To this council's mandate, a deliberate and interlocking framework in serving of one overarching goal, Sierra Leone reaffirms its unwavering commitment to this agenda as it enters its fourth decade.
Schools must be sanctuaries of learning, never sites of conflict.
Children must be protected, not targeted, and accountability must follow.
Those who choose otherwise.
I thank you.
I thank the delegation of Sierra Leone for that statement.
I now give the floor to the delegation of Mozambique.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
Mr.
president, I wish to thank the presidency for convening this timely and important open debate.
We also thank the Briefers for their valuable insights.
We commend Special Representative Vanessa Fresia and her office for the principled leadership, tireless advocacy and work that has helped keep the protection of children, not only on the agenda of this council, but at the centre of our collective conscience.
The Secretary-General's latest report confronts us with the grave moral and legal reality in 2025.
The United Nations verified the highest number of grave violations against children since the Mandate's establishment three decades ago Each number is a child whose childhood was stolen, a family broken, a community wounded, a future diminished.
Mr.
president, President Samora Machel taught us that children are the safer than the sun, meaning the life of the nation.
When children are recruited, abducted, raped, maimed, killed or denied education and humanitarian relief.
The target is not the child alone.
It is the moral foundation of society itself and the future the nation was meant to inherit.
Let us be unambiguous no grievance, no ideology, no claim of security or military necessity can ever justify turning a child into the battlefield of adult.
Failure to target children is a tragedy To know they are being targeted and failed to act is a moral and legal dereliction.
This council cannot afford.
Mozambique reaffirms its unwavering commitment to the promotion of peace, human rights and the rights of the child in accordance with domestic and international obligations.
We welcome initiatives such as the Proof It Matters campaign, which rightly insists that protection without evidence is merely aspiration and that accountability must build on facts, not assumptions.
Mr.
president, my own country has lived this reality directly.
In parts of Mozambique, terrorism and violent extremism have exposed children to fear, displacement, recruitment, abduction and other grave violations.
We do not speak today as distant observers of this agenda.
We speak as a nation that has had to confront it.
Yet through sustained, deliberate action grounded in cooperation, the government of Mozambique achieved a significant reduction in verified grave violations against children in 2025 compared to previous reporting periods.
This was not incidental.
It was the result of choices, investment and political will.
In 2025 alone, more than 700 members of the Defence and security forces received specialised training on child protection in armed conflict, human rights and international humanitarian law.
With the support of international partners.
Prove that prevention is not rhetorical but trainable, measurable and achievable.
We continue to work closely with the United Nations civil society and humanitarian partners to deliver assistance to affected communities, strengthen monitoring and reporting mechanisms, and support disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration programmes that place children formerly associated with armed groups at the centre of their design, not at the margins, its margins.
Mr.
president, Mozambique remains committed to investigating allegations of violations involving children and ensuring accountability in accordance with national and international law.
Transparency cooperation and dialogue are not optional courtesies.
In this work, they are the only foundation on which credible child protection can be built.
It is in the same spirit that Mozambique Trust, that continued progress on the ground.
The documented reduction of verified grave violations and the strengthening of national child protection mechanisms will be duly reflected in future reporting, including Mozambique's removal from the report's annex.
In conclusion, Mr.
President, the test of this council is not how forcefully we speak about children today, but how faithfully we act for them tomorrow.
Mozambique stands ready to be judged and to be held to that standard.
I thank you, Mr.
President.
I thank the delegation of Mozambique for that statement.
I now give the floor to the delegation of Jordan.
Thank you.
President.
Jordan would like to thank Colombia for convening this debate.
We commend the contributions of the Briefers, particularly the Special Representative of the Secretary General for Children in Armed Conflict, as well as her efforts in preparing the report before us.
Our meeting coincides with the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the Children Armed Conflict Mandate.
However the findings contained in the report leave little room for celebration of the progress achieved and instead compel us to confront the widening gap between the standards adopted by the international community and the actual protection afforded to children on the ground.
The report portrays the horrific reality faced by children in the occupied Palestinian territory, where the highest number of grave violations worldwide were recorded.
The broader toll further illustrates the scale of the catastrophe in the Gaza Strip.
The number of casualties since October 2023 has exceeded 72,000 Palestinians, including more than 21,000 children.
Over 56,000 children have lost one or both parents, while thousands of others have suffered amputations or sustained permanent injuries that will affect them for the rest of their lives.
In this regard, Jordan first stresses the importance of full compliance with Security Council Resolution 2803 and the full implementation of the plan proposed by President Donald Trump of the United States, including full adherence to the ceasefire declaration.
Since the announcement of the ceasefire in October 2025, non-compliance with its provisions has resulted in the killing of approximately 1000 Palestinians and the injury of more than 3000 others.
This has included the continued targeting of schools and hospitals, as well as restrictions on the delivery of humanitarian assistance.
While hundreds of thousands of children have remained deprived of access to education.
Jordan stresses the vital importance of the role played by the UN.
It is an indispensable role to provide education and other basic assistance to Palestinian children in all five areas of work their their properties and um employees must be provided for and protected.
We condemn the illegal actions of the Israeli occupation forces, including the increased attacks by Israeli settlers in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.
Israel, as the occupying power, must comply with its obligations in.
In line with international humanitarian law.
Fourth, we reject all campaigns against the Palestinian people and the disregard to the grave violations worldwide against the Palestinian people, including the children.
We support the efforts of the Secretary General and the Special representative in documenting such violations and presenting the facts based on the evidence.
We stress the need to implement the two state solutions and the establishment of a Palestinian statehood along the lines of the 4th of July 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital, living in peace and security side by side with Israel.
Turning to the report that portrays the horrific reality faced by children in the occupied Palestinian territories that has led to the suffering of thousands of children, we stress the need to protect all children in all conflict areas around the world.
We call upon the Security Council to shoulder its responsibilities, uh, so that it can actually maintain international peace and security and support political and diplomatic solutions and the peaceful settlement of disputes, providing safety for those who have nothing to do with the conflict, especially children, the most vulnerable.
To conclude, Jordan stresses that the provisions of international humanitarian law are universal and must be applicable in all contexts and on all parties to the conflict, without exception In this vein, Jordan, along with Brazil, China, France, Kazakhstan and South Africa, and in cooperation with the ICRC, continue their efforts um along with the Global initiative to mobilise political commitment to the IT to promote respect of the rule of law and the protection of civilians.
On the seventh UN of December 2026, we will host the high Level Conference on Humanity in War to promote our political commitment to those rules.
Thank you.
I thank the delegation of Jordan for that statement.
I now give the floor to the representative of the Permanent Observer mission of the Holy See.
Mr.
president, the Secretary-General's latest report, for which we thank the Special Representative and her Distinguished office provides a sobering account of the suffering endured by children in armed conflicts.
The documented rise in grave violations underscores the urgent need for the international community to increase its efforts to safeguard the most vulnerable victims of war.
Mr.
president, children continue to bear the disproportionate share of the suffering caused by armed conflict.
Many are killed or injured in places that should be safe.
Havens such as homes, schools, hospitals and places of worship.
Others live with the consequences of violence long after the fighting ends.
Experiencing trauma, disability and loss.
The Holy See remains particularly concerned by the continued recruitment, abuse and abduction of children.
These grave violations rob children of their childhood, separate them from their families and communities, and expose them to violence and exploitation, resulting in lasting consequences.
Equally troubling are the effects of displacement, family separation and the disruption of education and health care as they deprive countless children for the of the conditions necessary for their well-being and enter integral human development.
Such suffering is a great affront to the God given dignity of every child who deserves protection and care, and can never be considered as mere collateral damage in the prosecution of war.
Mr.
president, against this backdrop, the growing integration of emerging technologies into military operations raises further concerns.
The increasing use of an unmanned and artificial intelligence supported systems raises profound questions, including those related to the protection of children.
In this sense, Popplio the 14th.
In his first encyclical letter magnifique, Humanitas affirmed that any technology that facilitates attack without seeing the face of human beings lowers the moral threshold of conflict.
While technology can assist human beings in decision making, it never.
It can never replace the moral judgment, the responsibility and accountability that must accompany decision affecting human life.
Therefore, the Holy See urges all parties in conflict to fully comply with international humanitarian law and to uphold fundamental human rights law, ensuring that the special protection granted to children are respected in all circumstances.
In this regard, my delegation emphasizes the responsibility of states to protect civilians from the effects of hostilities and to strengthen accountability for grave violations committed against children.
Mr.
president the Holy See encourages states that have not yet done so to endorse the Political Declaration on Strengthening the Protection of civilians from humanitarian consequences arising from the use of explosive weapons in populated areas.
As Pope Leo recently observed, when we witnessed the bombing of civilians, attacks on hospitals, schools, or vital infrastructure and violence that affects children, we are confronted with scandals that wound humanity itself.
The international community must not fail in its responsibility to protect lives, dignity and future of children affected by armed conflict.
The response to their suffering will serve as an indicator of both of the commitment to international law and the respect of the God given human dignity of each person.
Muchas gracias, senor Presidente.
Gracias.
I thank the delegation of the Permanent Observer mission of the Holy See for that statement.
I now give the floor to Myanmar.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
Mr.
president, at the outset, I wish to thank you for convening this meeting.
I also thank the Swiss Ambassador, Vanessa, a Unicef executive Director and the Country director of the Planned International Haiti, for their insightful remarks.
Mr.
president, according to the Secretary-General's report, violations against children in Armed conflict reached unprecedented levels in 2025, and the the highest number of children were affected by violations since the beginning of the mandate.
Among the six grave violations against children, attacks on education were increased by 40% in the 2024 2025 period, according to the Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attack.
These shocking numbers demonstrate the monitoring and reporting mechanisms alone are not sufficient to prevent violations under the Ceeac agenda.
Political will, increased compliance with international law, strengthened accountability for violations, and prevented tools must be accompanied in tandem to ensure the protection of children and the prevention prevention of violations.
Mr.
president, my country Myanmar is witnessing one of the highest numbers of violations since the 2021 illegal coup.
The Secretary-General's report highlighted a disproportionate number of violations against children committed by the military junta and its affiliated forces, including forced conscription, conscription, adoption, killing and maiming, attacks against schools, and denial of humanitarian access.
Against this alarming backdrop, I wish to emphasise the following concrete measures to strengthen the protection of education and the prevention of violations in Myanmar.
First, prevent the flow of jet fuel to the military junta.
The recent OSCE report stressed that airstrikes by the military junta remain the single largest cause of destruction and suffering on civilians, including children.
Deliberate and targeted aerial attacks on schools and learning centres by the military have essentially deprived children of their safe space to land and the rights to education.
As a result, some children in Myanmar are learning in Bengals or makeshift camps.
There are videos of our children executing evacuation procedures Upon hearing a fighter jet in the sky.
Therefore, I appeal to the member states to cut the flow of arms, weapons, jet fuel and other items and related technologies to the military junta to protect our children and our schools.
Second, enforce accountability measures for violations.
The OSCE reported that 702 civilians, including 153 children, were killed by the military junta in the sham elections period alone The spikes of violations by the military are reinforced by pervasive impunity and lack of effective accountability mechanisms.
There is a widespread public perception that unwarranted engagement with the military junta have emboldened the military to commit further atrocities against civilians, including women and children.
As such, I ask the council to enforce accountability measures against the military hunter, including a follow up resolution to the Security Council Resolution 2669, and referring the situation in Myanmar to the ICC At the same time, I wish to echo the Secretary-General's call for a working group on Kasey to adopt conclusions on the present report on Myanmar so that it could help protect, protect children and save their lives.
Third, provide tangible support to affected communities More than 6.3 million school, school age children and young people have been left out of school, losing their rights to basic education since the coup.
Predictable and sustained financing is urgently needed to invest in early warning systems digital infrastructure, internet connectivity, capacity training in ICTs, and remote learning opportunities in conflict affected areas.
Despite facing challenges, the national unity government and Allied Democratic Forces are coordinating through the Steering Council for the emergence of a federal Democratic Union to utilise available technologies and collaborate with Cdms educators to provide innovative online education pathways for our children and youth.
In addition the NUG has engaged with the UN accordingly to adopt child protection measures as welcomed by the Secretary-General in his report.
In conclusion, Mr.
President, Myanmar reaffirms the utmost importance of safeguarding the right to education for children and preventing their grave violations in all circumstances The loss of education opportunities threatens an entire generation of Myanmar children and their future.
Narrow self-interest cannot take precedence over the protection of our children.
The international community, particularly the Security Council, has a collective responsibility to protect the lives and future of our children and enforce accountability measures against their violations.
Failure to act is a choice and its cost is generational.
Finally, I reiterate my urgent call to the international community to support the people of Myanmar in their efforts to eradicate the military dictatorship and build a fairer, democratic union that can genuinely guarantee the protection of children.
I thank you, Mr.
President.
I thank to the representative of Myanmar, and I now give the floor to the delegation of Thailand.
President, Thailand, thanks Colombia for convening this important debate.
In 2025, the United Nations verified 38,000 grave violations against children, the highest number since the establishment of the mandate.
This statistic reveals that the special protections afforded by international law are being widely disregarded.
Thailand recognises that grave violations not only cause immediate harm, but also threaten their future by disrupting access to education and jeopardising children's long term development.
Protecting children is therefore essential to ensuring their right to learn and thrive In this regard, Thailand as a state party to the convention on the rights of the child and the optional protocols remain steadfast in our commitment to protecting children affected by armed conflict, including by preventing their recruitment and exploitation and supporting their recovery and reintegration.
However, these challenges require a collective international response.
Mr.
president, the 30th anniversary of this mandate provides a timely opportunity to reflect on our future priorities.
Thailand emphasizes that ensuring the right to education is an essential component of the comprehensive protection of children in armed conflict.
We therefore submit three priorities.
First, we must ensure that schools remain protected and safe spaces.
We call on all parties to adhere strictly to the 1949 Geneva Conventions and implement measures to prevent attacks on schools.
These measures must recognise that attacks on schools affect children differently and require protection responses that are inclusive, age sensitive and gender responsive.
Second, we must end the cycle of impunity.
Thailand reaffirms its support for the United Nations monitoring and reporting mechanism.
Accurate documentation is the first step toward accountability for those who target educational personnel and facilities.
Third we must ensure uninterrupted access to education during and after conflict.
Investment in resilient education systems and support for temporary learning facilities is paramount in preserving safe spaces for development.
Thailand's approach focuses on institutionalising flexibility through digital learning platforms, adaptable curricula, and community based learning mechanisms that help ensure continuity of education during crises and emergencies.
Through our partnership with Unicef, we also seek to integrate education, psychosocial support and humanitarian assistance into a shock responsive system that enables conflict affected children to rebuild their lives and restore their educational trajectories.
Mr.
president, protecting the classroom is a peacebuilding imperative.
When we fail to safeguard a school today, we dismantle the stability of tomorrow.
Thailand stands ready to work with all member States and the United Nations to ensure that every child can learn in safety and live with dignity.
I thank you.
I thank the representative of Thailand for their statement.
I now give the floor to the representative of Timor-Leste.
Mr.
President Timor Leste.
Thanks, Colombia for convening this open debate and the Briefers for their valuable contributions.
We welcome the report of the Secretary General on children and armed conflict.
The report is deeply alarming.
In 2025, the United Nations verified 38,558 grave violations, affecting 24,174 children, the highest number since the beginning of the mandate.
Behind these figures are children killed, maimed, recruited, abducted, denied humanitarian assistance, subjected to sexual violence and deprived of the safety, dignity and future to which every child is entitled.
Timor-Leste reaffirms that all parties to armed conflict must fully comply with their obligations under international humanitarian law and international human rights law, including the convention on the rights of the child and its Optional Protocol on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict.
The problem is not the absence of rules, but the failure to respect and implement them.
Mr.
president, schools must remain civilian and protected spaces.
They must never become targets barracks, recruiting grounds or instruments of fear.
Attacks on schools and their military use not only endanger children's lives, but also disrupt learning, undermine protection and increase the risk of recruitment, exploitation, early marriage trafficking and gender based violence.
The report reminds us that education can be attacked in different ways.
We are gravely concerned by the situation in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories, including Gaza, where schools and hospitals have become sites of destruction and children have been deprived of safety, humanitarian assistance and education.
In Afghanistan, the continued ban on girls education beyond grade six forms part of a broader system of institutionalised, gender based oppression and domination This system has been described by many, including Afghan women and civil society, as gender apartheid.
Timor-Leste reiterates that the denial of girls education is an attack on individual rights and on the future of an entire society.
Consistent with our engagement in the Crimes Against Humanity treaty process, Timor-Leste supports efforts to codify gender apartheid as a crime against humanity, and to address the recruitment and use of children in conflicts.
Accountability must be part of prevention.
We encourage states to translate commitments, including those under the Safe Schools Declaration into concrete national measures, military training command directives, age assessment procedures, handover protocols, protection of educational facilities and child sensitive reintegration programs.
Timor-Leste.
His own history has shown that protecting children and rebuilding education for all are essential foundations for recovery and peace building after conflict.
Schools are not only places of learning, they are.
They are places where trust, dignity and hope are rebuilt.
Protecting.
Protecting education means protecting the future.
No child should bear the burden of war, and no society can build lasting peace while its children are denied safety, dignity and education.
I thank you.
I thank the delegation of Timor-Leste for that statement.
I now give the floor to the delegation of Burundi.
Merci, monsieur.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
President, my delegation thanks you for organising this open debate on the issue of children in armed conflict, a subject that remains one of the most urgent humanitarian and security concerns of our time.
Wherever conflicts break out, children are the first victims.
They lose their safety, their access to education, their families, and all too often, their future While they should be growing up in an environment of protection and personal development, millions of children today live under the constant threat of violence, forced displacement and exploitation.
We remain deeply concerned by the persistence of the six grave violations committed against children in situations of armed conflict, the recruitment and use of child soldiers, killing and maiming, sexual violence, abductions, attacks on schools and hospitals, and the denial of humanitarian access.
The recruitment and use of children by armed groups continues to constitute a flagrant violation of international law.
These practices deprive children of their childhood and expose them to trauma, whose consequences can be felt throughout their lives.
The international community must redouble its efforts to prevent such recruitment, hold those responsible to account and support disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration programmes.
Burundi also wishes to draw attention to the devastating consequences of attacks on civilian infrastructure, particularly schools and health facilities.
When a school is destroyed or turned into a military target.
It is not only education that is compromised, but the hope of an entire generation.
Guaranteeing the continuity of education in times of conflict must be regarded as an absolute priority.
Neither can we ignore the particular situation of girls in conflict zones.
They are disproportionately exposed to sexual violence, forced marriage, and various forms of exploitation.
Any child protection strategy must incorporate a gender sensitive approach in order to effectively address their specific needs.
Mr.
president, the protection of children cannot be ensured without safe, rapid and unimpeded humanitarian access.
Humanitarian organisations must be able to reach vulnerable populations and provide essential assistance, particularly when it comes to health, nutrition, education and psychosocial support.
Furthermore, the fight against impunity remains indispensable.
Perpetrators of grave violations against children must be identified and held accountable for their actions.
Justice is a fundamental element of prevention and long term protection.
No child should see their suffering ignored or their rights violated without consequence.
We commend the efforts of the United Nations, its specialized agencies, peacekeeping operations and humanitarian organisations to monitor violations, support victims and promote respect for international humanitarian law.
However, the challenges remain immense and require stronger collective mobilisation.
In this regard, we would like to put forward a number of recommendations.
First, strengthen, prevent and prevention mechanisms in order to identify risks before they result in mass violations of children's rights.
Second, increase funding for child protection programmes, particularly those devoted to emergency education and psychosocial support.
Third, systematically integrate child protection into conflict prevention strategies, peace processes and the mandates of peacekeeping operations.
Fourth support rehabilitation and reintegration programmes for children formerly associated with arms, armed forces and groups in order to offer them genuine prospects for the future.
Finally, strengthen international cooperation to ensure the effective implementation of Security Council resolutions on children and armed conflict.
Mr.
president, children do not choose wars, yet they bear their heaviest and most lasting consequences.
Our collective responsibility is to ensure that no child is deprived of their right to safety, education and dignity because of an armed conflict.
The protection of children is not only a moral and legal obligation, it also constitutes an essential investment in peace, stability and sustainable development by protecting children today.
We contribute to building the peaceful societies of tomorrow.
I thank you.
I thank the delegation of Burundi for that statement.
I now give the floor to the delegation of Malaysia.
Mr.
president, Malaysia thanks Colombia for convening this important debate.
We welcome the focus on reasserting international legal protections for children in armed conflict, particularly through strengthening the protection of education and preventing grave violations against children.
We also thank the Secretary General for his report and the Briefers for their insights.
The Secretary General's report paints a devastating picture of the impact of armed conflict on children.
In 2025, the UN verified over 38,000 grave violations affecting more than 2000 children, the highest number recorded since the mandate was established.
This troubling development reflects a growing disregard for international humanitarian law and international human rights law, as well as the special protections afforded to children in armed conflict.
Nowhere is this more evident than in the occupied Palestinian territory, particularly Gaza.
The secretary general's report documents over 12000 verified grave violations affecting children, including thousands killed or maimed, hundreds of attacks on schools and hospitals, and severe restrictions on humanitarian access.
The destruction of educational infrastructure and the prolonged interruption of learning have denied countless Palestinian children of their right to education, while exposing them to trauma and harm that may endure for generations.
As a signatory to the Safe Schools Declaration, Malaysia reaffirms its commitment to safeguarding education during armed conflict and to promoting measures that protect students, teachers and educational facilities from the effects of hostilities.
We encourage greater efforts to translate international commitments into practical measures on the ground, including strengthened monitoring and reporting mechanisms, and enhanced support for the continuity of education in conflict affected settings.
Attacks on schools, hospitals, humanitarian personnel and other protected civilian objects must be thoroughly investigated, and those responsible must be held accountable in accordance with international law.
Malaysia condemns these atrocities in the strongest terms and reiterates the need for accountability.
Impunity only perpetuates further violations and undermines the protection framework carefully developed by the international community over the past three decades.
Mr.
president, as we mark the 30th anniversary of the Children and Armed Conflict mandate, we must reaffirm our collective commitment to ensuring that every child can grow, learn and thrive free from violence and fear.
Malaysia remains steadfast in supporting international efforts to protect children affected by armed conflict and to uphold their rights, dignity and future.
We support and commend the dedicated efforts of the Srsg for children and armed conflict towards this cause.
I thank you.
I thank the delegation of Malaysia for that statement.
I now give the floor to the delegation of Cambodia.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
Cambodia thanked Colombia for convening this timely, open debate on a.
UN appreciates the briefers for their valuable insights.
The Secretary-General's last report recorded the highest verified number of grave violations against children, including increased killing and maiming, attacks on schools and denial of humanitarian access.
This alarming trend demands urgent and sustained actions.
In this regard, Cambodia wishes to share three points.
First, international legal obligations must be fully implemented.
International humanitarian law, international human rights law and convention on the rights of the child and Relevant Security Council's resolutions provide a comprehensive framework for protecting children's.
These commitments must be translated into effective national measures, strengthened monitoring and credible accountability mechanisms.
Second, protecting schools and ensuring continuity of education must remain a priority.
In response to the displacement along our border, Cambodia launched the Salla Camps Initiative to provide learning opportunities for displaced children and safeguard their rights to education.
We encourage similar efforts to protect education from the impact of conflicts.
Third, the protection of displaced children must be an integral part of humanitarian responses, as humanitarian consequences of conflicts often persist long after the violence subsides.
While nearly 640,000 displaced persons in Cambodia have returned home, 22,378 people, including 6461 children remain displaced.
Their vulnerabilities require continued child sensitive assistance, psychological support and sustained international cooperation.
Mr.
president, as the Children and Armed Conflict agenda marks the 30th anniversary, Cambodian remained committed to working with all partners to ensure that every child can learn, develop and try free from violence and fear.
I thank you.
I thank the delegation of Cambodia for that statement.
There are no more speakers on the list.
The meeting is adjourned.