Viet Nam Human Rights
Protecting children in armed conflict
17/2/20
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Speaking at a debate of the UN Security Council (UNSC) on how to protect children in situations of armed conflict in New York on February 12, Guterres emphasized the child protection as a starting point for dialogue, confidence building, negotiation and reconciliation efforts among parties involved in the conflict.
On this occasion, Guterres introduced the “Practical Guidance for mediators to protect children in situations of armed conflict”, which was developed on the basis of concrete examples in which child protection issue was successfully integrated into peace processes or peace agreements.
UN Secretary-General's Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict Virginia Gamba stressed at the debate that “protection of children and the prevention of violations against them should and must be prioritized in mediation and peace building efforts to ensure long-lasting and sustainable peace in countries affected by armed conflict".
She encouraged member states, regional and sub-regional organizations, mediators, parties to conflict, and other actors involved in peace processes to make full use of this practical guidance.
Participants to the event shared concerns over the recurrence of serious violations against children, including the use and recruitment of child soldiers, killing and causing injuries, sexual violence, kidnapping, assault on schools and hospitals, and refusing humanitarian access to conflict areas.
They stressed that protecting children is essential to break the deadlock circle of violence and conflict, towards building sustainable peace.
In his statement, Vietnam’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Dang Dinh Quy affirmed that protecting children in armed conflict is a priority of the UNSC, the obligation of each UN member state and the responsibility of each person when witnessing hurts caused by conflict to children that are unable to defend themselves.
He applauded the “Practical Guidance for mediators to protect children in situations of armed conflict”, while stressing the role played by regional organisations in connecting efforts at national, regional and global levels.
While sharing Vietnam’s experience, Quy affirmed the importance of education to help children overcome the devastation of war, and cultivate their love of peace and hope for a better future./.
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All comments [ 20 ]
International humanitarian law clearly states that children's rights must be respected during armed conflict.
This does not always prevent children being affected by violence in various ways.
Once wars and other conflicts begin, children suffer abuse—physical, sexual, and emotional. This is despite international laws to protect them.
The resultant unhappiness and mental disturbance is so great in children that it can rarely be repaired.
In accordance with their obligations under International Humanitarian laws in armed conflicts, States Parties shall take all feasible measures to ensure protection and care of children who are affected by an armed conflict.
Children under 5 are the most vulnerable in refugee camps, succumbing to malnutrition, gastroenteritis, acute respiratory infection, malaria, and measles.
Torture and sexual abuse of children are widespread, particularly in conflicts dominated by ethnicity.
We must all do more’ to protect children in armed conflict
Children have “no role in conflict”
Attacks on hospitals and schools deny children education, healthcare and lifesaving emergency assistance and force families from their homes
These violations cause lasting damage to the children themselves, and to their communities and societies to which they belong
this can “feed the grievances and frustrations that lead to extremism, creating a vicious circle of tension and violence”.
By integrating specific measures to protect children into peace processes, we can achieve concrete results for children, and for peace
It is our fundamental duty as leaders to do everything in our power to protect children, our future, from the chaos and madness of wars that have nothing to do with them
protecting children in armed conflict “should be an important aspect of any comprehensive strategy to resolve conflict and sustain peace
Children must be “at the heart of all our efforts to prevent and resolve violent conflict”,
During peace negotiations, the best interest of children must be the first priority, violations of child rights must not only be prevented but “addressed before, during and after conflicts.”
Unaddressed violations of children's rights perpetuate a culture of impunity, injustice and lawlessness that may have given rise to the conflict in the first place and provides fertile ground for a relapse into violent conflict.
The inclusion of child protection issues in peace processes is instrumental to building the foundations of sustainable peace, which is the only way to ensure the full protection of children’s rights.
Addressing the needs of conflict-affected children in peace processes is not just a moral or legal imperative, it’s crucial to a durable peace.
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