The Machel Reports

The landmark 1996 United Nations report "Impact of armed conflict on children" (A/51/306) proposed comprehensive actions to improve the protection and care of children affected by armed conflict. Known as the Machel study because of its author, the expert of the Secretary-General, Graça Machel, the report remains widely used as a foundation for programme and advocacy.

The General Assembly unanimously welcomed the report in its resolution 51/77, in which it also established the mandate of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict.

In September 2000, 10 years after the Convention on the Rights of the Child went into force and world leaders met at the World Summit for Children. Canada hosted the International Conference on War-Affected Children in Winnipeg. In preparation for the Conference, Canada commissioned the Machel Review 1996-2000, to review progress in protecting war-affected children and to serve as principal background document of the Conference.

To mark the 10th anniversary of the landmark Graça Machel study, UNICEF and SRSG have united to review the current situation faced by children in armed conflict. The Machel Strategic Review identifies emerging challenges and priorities and the responses required for the next decade.

The strategic review report was prepared with an inter-agency advisory group and featured a multi-stakeholder process involving United Nations system partners, Member States, non-governmental organizations and other representatives of civil society, as well as children themselves.

"Will you listen? Young voices from Conflict Zones" compiles the views of some 1,700 children and young people in 92 countries. Their thoughts and ideas were collected as a key contribution to the Review through a series of focus group discussions and an online questionnaire.