Check against delivery 

Mr President,

I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the European Union and its Member States.

The Candidate Countries North Macedonia*, Montenegro*, Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina*, as well as San Marino align themselves with this statement.

The report of the Secretary General on Children and Armed Conflict once again shows an alarming increase in violations committed against children in conflict situations. Following an already deeply concerning rise in the numbers for 2023 as discussed in this Chamber a year ago, we are now confronted with a further staggering 25 per cent upsurge of verified violations in the report for 2024. We are especially alarmed by the sharp rise in rape and other forms of sexual violence, in particular cases of gang rape, among the cases covered by the report. While girls are severely and disproportionately affected by sexual violence, boys were affected as well.

The message is clear: children are bearing the brunt of the rise in conflict-related violence we observe around the globe. This is unacceptable. We must do more to prevent such violations, and ensure accountability is brought to bear against perpetrators.

The EU urges all parties to armed conflict to uphold their obligations under international law and take concrete steps to prevent violations against children. The fight against impunity is essential in this context. There must be zero tolerance for violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law. We call on States to hold those responsible to account, and encourage cooperation with international justice mechanisms, such as the International Criminal Court.

All 26 country and regional situations covered in the report undoubtedly deserve our full attention and efforts, but allow me to highlight a few in particular:

In Annex I of the report, Russian armed forces and affiliated armed groups continue to be listed as responsible for committing grave violations against children. In this regard, the report shows an increase of over 100 per cent in verified grave violations committed in the context of Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified war of aggression against Ukraine, which constitutes a manifest violation of international law, including, inter alia, the UN Charter. We reiterate our call upon the Russian Federation to end the unlawful practice of child deportation and forcible transfer, to stop illegal adoptions of Ukrainian children, and to ensure their immediate and safe return to Ukraine.

We also note with great concern the grave violations committed against children in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory during and after the attacks on 7 October 2023, as well as the immense suffering of civilians, particularly children, in Gaza, including in the context of the extremely critical humanitarian situation, exacerbated by the denial of humanitarian access. We also note with concern the sharply deteriorated situation for children in the West Bank, and grave violations committed against children in Lebanon. The European Union underlines the need for respect for international law obligations and urgent measures to protect children. An immediate ceasefire, the unconditional release of all hostages, and unimpeded access and sustained distribution of humanitarian assistance at scale into and throughout Gaza are urgently needed. 

Moreover, we are appalled by the continuously high number of grave violations committed against children in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and in Sudan. We note the second-highest increase worldwide in grave violations against children in the DRC, particularly the recruitment and use in armed forces and armed groups, as well as cases of sexual violence. While there have been some positive developments, including accountability efforts and the voluntary release of over 1,500 children by armed groups, the situation remains alarming. In Sudan, the killing and maiming of children remains disturbingly widespread, while the past year also saw a surge in attacks against schools and hospitals. We urge all parties to these conflicts to abide by their international law obligations, end all violations and cease hostilities. 

Lastly, we would like to highlight the situation of children in Haiti, which is characterised by a surge in confirmed cases of sexual violence. This is a horrific tactic of war with devastating consequences. We call on all actors involved, including security forces and armed gangs, to end impunity and hold perpetrators accountable. The report also reveals that the denial of humanitarian access in Haiti has increased dramatically over the last year. This constitutes one of the six grave violations and a violation of international humanitarian law, and we urge all parties to allow and facilitate safe, timely and unimpeded humanitarian access immediately.

Mr President,

The EU remains a staunch supporter of the CAAC mandate, and especially its important work on prevention. We look forward to this year’s negotiations on the bi-annual resolution on the Rights of the Child, co-facilitated by the EU and Uruguay on behalf of GRULAC in the Third Committee, in which we hope to further extend this important mandate.  

We call for states and other conflict parties to participate actively in the protection of children in armed conflict by preparing concrete Action Plans and supporting the Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism and relevant Country Task Forces.

We also encourage Member States that have not done so to endorse and implement the Paris Principles and Commitments and Vancouver Principles, and to abide by the principles of the Political Declaration on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas and the Safe Schools Declaration; and encourage endorsers to uphold their commitments and fully implement and exchange lessons learned and good practices.

The EU is proud to recall last year’s update of our internal CAAC Guidelines and of the related Checklist for the Integration of Protection of Children Affected by Armed Conflict. The updates include an emphasis on implementation responsibilities, including sustainable and predictable funding for prevention and accountability measures. We call upon Member States to ensure child protection is systematically prioritised, adequately funded, and integrated into relevant resolutions, mandates, and programs. Doing so not only protects children during crises but builds the conditions for durable peace and sustainable recovery.

We must form a united front to focus our best efforts towards protecting children in armed conflict - it is our legal and moral obligation. The EU stands ready to work with our partners towards a future where children are protected from the horrors in armed conflict.

Thank you.

* North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.