EU Statement – UN Security Council Arria-formula Meeting: Red Hand Day 2026 on Safe Education to Prevent the Recruitment and Use of Children in Armed Conflict

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Chair,

I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the European Union.

We thank Panama and the co-sponsors Austria, Greece, Japan, Liberia and Uruguay for organising this meeting on the occasion of Red Hand Day, as well as the briefers for stressing the important connection between education and child protection in conflict settings.

The Secretary General’s latest report on Children and Armed Conflict refers to the recruitment and use of 7,402 children by parties to conflict in 2024 - representing only verified cases, and therefore unfortunately just the tip of the iceberg. One third of these children were girls, specifically targeted and subjected to severe violations, including forced marriage and sexual exploitation.

Securing access to safe and inclusive education is central to preventing the recruitment of children in conflict settings, and to reintegration efforts for children released from armed groups. For many children, school - whether in formal classrooms, temporary learning spaces or simple community-based settings - is the only constant in an insecure daily environment.

This crucial importance of education was highlighted during a consultation conducted by the EU with children living in conflict-affected settings in preparation for this year’s Human Rights Council resolution on the Rights of the Child, which will focus on Children and Armed Conflict. Twenty-four children between 12 and 17 years old from ten different countries were consulted in a child-friendly online meeting, organised in cooperation with civil society. The children called for several recommendations to be included in the HRC resolution. Their top priority was that States should build safe learning spaces, protect schools from military use, invest in alternative and remote learning, and guarantee access to education so that children do not fall behind in their studies.

However, the Secretary General’s report confirms that we currently fail to fulfil this straightforward request. It documents not only an increase in verified violations against children across the board, but in particular a significant rise in attacks affecting schools and education personnel. The EU calls on all parties to the conflict to uphold international law, including international humanitarian law and international human rights law, respect the protections afforded to education facilities, and hold accountable those responsible for attacks.

Regarding reintegration, children released from armed groups require sustained support. Education systems need the capacity to welcome these children without stigma, through support from trained teachers, psychosocial care and flexible learning pathways. Programmes that combine education with child protection, mental health care, and assistance to displaced families have proven effective in reducing vulnerability, strengthening resilience and preventing re-recruitment. These approaches must consider the different experiences of girls and boys, ensure accessibility for children with disabilities, and provide confidential, survivor-centred support for victims of gender-based violence.

We encourage Member States that have not yet done so to endorse and implement the Paris Principles and Commitments, building towards the 20th anniversary that we will celebrate in 2027, the Vancouver Principles and the Safe Schools Declaration, and to abide by the principles of the Political Declaration on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas; and encourage endorsers to uphold their commitments, ensure their full implementation, and exchange lessons learned and good practices.

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

The EU remains a staunch supporter of the mandate of the SRSG for Children and Armed Conflict, and welcomes its recent extension by the General Assembly for a four-year period.

Let us not forget that children are powerful agents for change, and quality education is the key to empowering them.

Thank you.