10/11/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/10/2024 17:02
10 October 2024, New York - European Union Statement at the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly Third Committee: Interactive Dialogue with the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, Ms Virginia Gamba
Madam Special Representative,
I have the honor to speak on behalf of the European Union and its Member States.
25 years ago, Resolution 1261 placed the issue of children and armed conflict on the agenda of the Security Council. Today, the number of conflicts in the world continues to multiply and children bear the biggest burden. Year after year, the Secretary-General's annual report registers new record numbers of grave violations committed against children, and the real numbers are likely to be even higher.
The EU reiterates its support for your mandate, including the renewal of the CAAC mandate in 2025 and the need to ensure sufficient expertise in child protection, such as child protection advisor and officer posts.
We are particularly committed to ending the cycle of impunity and ensuring full accountability for grave violations of children's rights, as evidenced by the EU's updated Children and Armed Conflict (CAAC) framework published in 2024. We therefore reiterate our call on all States to hold those responsible of grave violations to account, and encourage cooperation with international justice mechanisms, including the International Criminal Court.
Madam Special Representative,
In the Pact for the Future, we took a clear stance and decided to accelerate the implementation of our commitments under the Children and Armed Conflict agenda. How can we use the momentum of the 25th anniversary, as well as this renewed commitment to the CAAC agenda, to effectively increase the protection of children and strengthen accountability for grave violations during armed conflict?
Thank you.