Joint Nordic Statement at the UNSC Open Debate on Children and Armed Conflict

Check Against Delivery

President, Excellences, distinguished delegates,

I am delivering this statement on behalf of the Nordic countries – Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, and my own country, Denmark. I thank the briefers for their valuable insights.

***

President, this year’s report from the Secretary General paints an extremely worrying picture. Of more violence. More attacks on schools and hospitals. More use of sexual violence. Increased recruitment and use of children by armed forces and groups. And escalating denial of humanitarian assistance to children in need. The number of instances of killing and maiming have raised by a staggering 35%. The devastating consequences of these violations are felt for generations.

50% of the grave violations are being committed by government forces. We call for compliance with international law and protection of children in armed conflict. And we encourage dialogue to prevent grave violations from occurring.

Allow me to highlight three elements to this effect:

First, we call on member states and parties to conflict to comply with international humanitarian law, human rights, including children’s rights, and refugee law. And we call on all Member States to become parties to the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict.

In this years’ report, we take note of the listing of the Israeli armed and security forces, as well as Hamas, PIJ and affiliated factions for grave violations committed against children in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory on 7. October 2023 and its ongoing aftermath. We are deeply concerned by the immense suffering of children in Gaza, the critical humanitarian situation, and the imminent risk of famine caused by the insufficient entry of aid. The Nordics underline that the prevention of further loss of life is an absolute priority.

In Ukraine, we are deeply concerned about Russian armed forces and affiliated armed groups responsible for committing grave violations against children.

In Sudan, we note with deep concern, that numbers of grave violations have gone up by 480 pct. compared to last year due to fighting between SAF and RSF. We call on both parties to stop their fighting and engage in dialogue.

This year’s report highlights an increase in the denial of humanitarian access. Besides situations already addressed, we note with concern situations in Afghanistan, the Central African Republic, Mali, Myanmar and Yemen. It is of utmost importance that all parties to conflicts allow and facilitate the rapid, safe, systematic and unimpeded access of relief personnel, equipment and supplies, as well as timely delivery of humanitarian assistance.

We call on all Member States to investigate and prosecute those responsible for grave violations of international law against children, and cooperate with international justice mechanisms, including the International Criminal Court. 

Second, the existing mechanisms and frameworks for protecting children must be strengthened. The Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism is a necessary pre-requisite for the CAAC-mandate. We must ensure its funding and maintenance. We fully support SRSG Gamba and her office in carrying out the mandate. Our responses to grave violations against children will be insufficient unless we ensure that our institutions are capable, resourced and robust. We encourage Member States who have not done so, to endorse and fully implement the Safe Schools Declaration, the EWIPA Declaration, the Vancouver Principles, as well as the Paris Principles and Commitments. We furthermore call on parties to conflict to sign and implement joint action plans with the UN to end and prevent grave violations. 

Third, we must increase our efforts to prevent grave violations from happening in the first place. In Iraq, Afghanistan, Ukraine, Ethiopia, Chad, Syria, Sudan, Myanmar and in Gaza, the ground is contaminated with explosive remnants of war, exposing children and their families to harm and preventing development and sustainable peace. We must do more to prevent the use of explosive weapons in populated areas.

We highlight the importance of ensuring that during UN-mission transitions, child protection is carefully planned for, and capacities are preserved and transferred to relevant actors to avoid that such transitions leave children exposed to violations. 

***

President, we must do better to prioritize the protection, rights, well-being, and empowerment of children – before, during and after conflict. 

I thank you.