EU Statement- UN General Assembly 3rd Committee: Interactive dialogue on the Rights of the Child

Chair,

I have the honor to speak on behalf of the European Union and its Member States.

We thank the five briefers for their presentations today.

Madam Acting Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict,

Allow me to reiterate our full support for your mandate and our appreciation for the tireless work of your Office, including the comprehensive annual report. As co-facilitators of the bi-annual resolution on the Rights of the Child together with GRULAC, the EU will advocate for the renewal of this mandate and that of the Special Representative on Violence against Children.

We are deeply concerned by the continued rise in grave violations committed against children, particularly the unprecedented scale of denial of humanitarian access you have documented, preventing countless children from receiving basic and life-saving services.

We therefore ask: How can Member States more effectively uphold their obligations under international humanitarian and human rights law to ensure that humanitarian access for children is protected and prioritised, particularly in contexts where access is systematically obstructed?

Madam, turning to your role as Special Representative on Violence against Children,

We share your alarm at the distressing levels of child poverty, which your report highlights as a major driver of violence against children worldwide. Nearly one billion children live in multidimensional poverty, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation, child labour, child marriage, trafficking, and recruitment by armed groups. Ensuring child-responsive social protection is essential to break the intergenerational cycle of poverty and violence

We commend your leadership in mobilising partnerships, including through the first Global Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence against Children in Bogotá in 2024, and the launch of the Pathfinding Global Alliance, which a number of EU Member States have joined. The EU also values your strong engagement with Member States, regional organisations, civil society and children themselves, and your emphasis on prevention, integrated protection systems and the convincing economic case for investment.

Dr. Maalla M’jid, in light of the urgent need to expand child-responsive social protection, what practical steps can governments and regional organisations take to ensure that investments reach the most vulnerable? How can we scale up universal, inclusive approaches that address the multiple risks children face, and guarantee sustainability in times of crisis?

Mr. Fontaine,

We commend UNICEF and its partners for their vital work in protecting and promoting the rights of children worldwide. These efforts are particularly crucial as escalating conflicts and crises threaten children's safety, well-being, and access to essential services. We call for collective efforts to dismantle the barriers that all too often hold back the most vulnerable, particularly girls, by strengthening education and social protection systems. The EU reaffirms its strong partnership with UNICEF to ensure every child can reach their full potential, a prerequisite for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

Given UNICEF’s focus on advancing social protection for children, what measures could further enhance the resilience and sustainability of child-responsive social protection systems, particularly in countries facing overlapping crises such as conflict, displacement, and climate shocks?

Madam Chair,

We thank you for your work as Chair of the Committee on the Rights of the Child and reiterate our full support to the work of treaty-based bodies.

The Report of the Secretary General on the Status of the Convention on the Rights of the Child presents a wide-ranging set of recommendations to advance early childhood development through a child rights-based approach. These recommendations address key areas such as sustainable financing for early childhood development, inclusive service delivery for marginalised children, and the integration of child-focused strategies into emergency response and national development planning.

Madam Chair, could you share how the Committee incorporates these recommendations into its review processes and engagement with State Parties?

Madam Special Rapporteur,

We welcome the focus of this year’s report on the sexual exploitation of children in street situations.

We strongly support the call for comprehensive, child-centred responses that uphold the dignity and rights of every child. The EU underscores the importance of removing legal and structural barriers to essential services such as education, healthcare, housing and social protection to ensure that age-, gender- and disability-responsive child protection systems are inclusive and trauma-informed. Consistent, rights-based, and sustainable responses are fundamental. We echo your emphasis on the relevance of evidence-based policy-making, data collection and child participation. 

We particularly welcome the recognition of the vital role played by civil society, donors and the private sector in ensuring sustainable and rights-compliant responses.

Madam Rapporteur, how can Member States best support meaningful dialogue and child participation in the design and monitoring of protection policies, especially for children in street situations who are hardest to reach?