UN Security Council calls for measures to protect children in armed conflict

UNITED NATIONS, June 17 (Xinhua) -- The UN Security Council on Monday called on the international community to take special measures to protect children in armed conflict and put an end to all violations of international law committed against children in such situations.

"The Security Council reiterates further its equally strong condemnation of all violations of applicable international law involving the recruitment and use of children by parties to armed conflict as well as their re-recruitment, killing and maiming, rape and other sexual violence, abductions, attacks against schools or hospitals and denial of humanitarian access by parties to armed conflict," said a presidential statement adopted by the 15-nation body as an outcome of its meeting on children and armed conflict.

While welcoming progress made in preventing and responding to violations and abuses committed against children, the most powerful body of UN said it remains "strongly concerned" about the continued high number of perpetrators who persist in committing such abuses in conflict situation "in open disregard of (the Security Council's" resolutions on the matter."

In that light, the Council stressed its commitment to effectively deal with persistent perpetrators and welcomed the ongoing consideration by its Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict of options "for increasing pressure on persistent perpetrators of violations and abuses committed against children in situations of armed conflict."

"The Security Council underlines the importance of engaging armed forces and armed groups on child protection concerns during peace talks," said the statement.

The Council also encouraged UN member states to devise ways, in close consultations with the UN country-level task force, to facilitate the development and implementation of time-bound action plans relating to the protection of children and armed conflict.

"The Security Council further calls upon member states, UN entities, including the Peacebuilding Commission and other parties concerned to ensure that post-conflict recovery and reconstruction planning, programs and strategies prioritize issues concerning children affected by armed conflict," it added.

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