Dear Mr. President, Dear Madam Special Representative,
The European Union would like to thank Ms. Coomaraswamy, Special Representative of the Secretary General for Children and Armed Conflict for the presentation of her Annual report.
The EU shares the Special Representative’s opinion expressed in the report that the main challenge now is to implement the normative standards for the protection of children involved in armed conflict. Addressing impunity by bringing perpetrators to justice and ensuring compliance of laws with international obligations is key in this regard. We have been pleased to read in the report that several legislative reforms undertaken recently in many states follow this line. The EU highly appreciates the work of the Special Representative, especially her field missions, which have resulted in encouraging commitments by relevant stakeholders. Despite these positive developments, as noted in the report, grave violations continue to be committed against children by parties to conflicts. What action had the Special Representative in mind when requiring more to be done to systemize and activate the full range of options available to the international community to ensure action against restive violators?
Madam Special Representative, in your report, you have put a special emphasis on widespread and systematic sexual violence against children in armed conflicts. In August this year the Security Council adopted a landmark resolution 1882, that requests the Secretary General to include in his reports on children and armed conflict parties responsible for killing and maiming of children as well as those perpetrating rape and other sexual violence. National strategies to prevent and combat sexual violence are a matter of priority in this regard. To what extent do the existing national strategies in concerned states cover the issue of sexual violence and do they include specific provisions regarding the protection of the girl child? We would also like to ask about the strategy of your Office in this particular area and if there have been any recent developments as a result of your activities?
You have identified several emerging concerns that constitute challenges in the protection of children in armed conflicts, besides already mentioned sexual violence also terrorism and counter-terrorism measures, attacks on schools, internal displacement and violence against children. In which of these areas is the protection gap most significant and where and how can the Human Rights Council be more active,not duplicating existing mechanisms but rather complementing them or even playing a leading role?
Finally, the EU would like to express its firm support to the Special Representative of the Secretary General by fulfilling her responsible and complex mandatefor the protection and well-being of children affected by armed conflict.
Thank you.