security council children and armed conflict

We welcome the progress registered by of SRSG’s Office and note with concern the challenges highlighted in the regions of the Lake Chad Basin and in Central Sahel, among others. We reiterate our staunch support for the CAAC mandate, as a unique tool to mainstream child protection in the political agenda of the Council. We encourage the maximum collaboration across the different UN mandates to prevent and end this plague and ensure that the perpetrators be brought to justice.

In parallel, we must not disregard those crimes largely under-reported, as sexual violence in conflict and rape used as tactic of war. In this framework, Italy recalls the Paris Principles, the Vancouver Principles and calls on all Member States to endorse and fully implement the “Safe Schools Declaration”, to mitigate the consequences of armed conflicts on education, and refrain from the military use of civil infrastructures. In this case, the essence of international law and international humanitarian law is under deliberated attack and the international community must reaffirm its commitment to the respect of international law, human rights and humanitarian principles. It is particularly disturbing to witness the rising trend of violations carried out by State actors, while States have the primary responsibility to protect, respect, and fulfil children’s rights, both in times of peace and in times of war. In this spirit, we express our deep concern for the increasing number of verified grave violations in the 2022 Secretary General’s Report.

In line with the Convention on the Rights of the Child, children, regardless of their legal status, must have the right to enjoy their childhood in stable and peaceful societies, where they can feel safe to learn and become actors of positive change, peace and sustainable development.

Italy aligns itself with the statements delivered by the European Union and by the Groups of Friends on CAAC and would like to add the following remarks in its national capacity. I would like to thank the United Kingdom for organizing this annual Open Debate, as well as the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict Virginia Gamba, and the Deputy Executive Director of UNICEF, for their informative briefings.

Security council children and armed conflict