Thirty years after its adoption, the United Nations’ Children and Armed Conflict mandate has continued to support the protection of children in conflicts.
\n\nAs we have heard, there have been welcome results.
\n\nOver 40 UN Action Plans have been agreed with parties to conflict to end and prevent grave violations, which have secured the separation of more than 220,000 children from armed forces and armed groups.
\n\nFor these children, this has meant a reduction in their exposure to violence, reunification with families, mental health and psychosocial support, and access to education.
\n\nBut there is far, far more to do.
\n\nAs we have also heard, the situation facing children in conflict remains dire.
\n\nAnd grave violations against children remain at record levels, and the threats they face are evolving with new technologies and new methods of warfare.
\n\nIn Sudan, almost 80 per cent of reported child casualties in the first four months of this year were attributed to drone attacks.
\n\nIn Ukraine, Russian missile and drone attacks kill and injure children, and damage the civilian infrastructure they depend on, including schools and hospitals.
\n\nIn Gaza, 700,000 students are deprived of a proper education as schools have been damaged or destroyed.
\n\nIt is therefore critical that we continue to monitor and to report on how such evolving threats affect children, to strengthen engagement with parties, and to hold perpetrators to account.
\n\nWe welcome the Council’s adoption last week of resolution 2832 recognising the impact of digital technologies on children in armed conflict.
\n\nThat resolution strengthens our focus on emerging risks, including how digital technologies can be used for the recruitment and use of children in conflict.
\n\nAnd we thank Greece for their leadership on this resolution.
\n\nWe call on all parties listed in the Secretary-General’s annual report to engage constructively with the United Nations to agree and implement action plans to end and prevent grave violations against children.
\n\nMr President, at a time when respect for international law is under strain, we must protect and build on thirty years of work.
\n\nThat means protecting the integrity of the Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism, ensuring that the United Nations has the access and child protection capacity needed to carry out its work, and upholding the consistent and evidence-based application of the Children in Armed Conflict framework.
\n\nThe United Kingdom will continue to be an active supporter of all that work.
\nThe Ambassador’s role is to represent the UK within an international organisation, engaging with every other country or organisation that belongs to or observes the body. The Ambassador is also responsible for the direction and work of the Mission. Ambassadors to multilateral missions are often referred to as ‘Permanent Representatives’.
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