Security Council Working Group
on Children and Armed Conflict
The Security Council Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict (CAAC) was established in July 2005 pursuant to the Security Council resolution 1612 (2005). Consisting of the 15 Security Council members, the Working Group meets in close session to:
1) Review the reports of the monitoring and reporting mechanism (MRM) referred to in paragraph 3 of resolution 1612 (2005)
2) Review progress in the development and implementation of the action plans mentioned in paragraph 5 (a) of resolution 1539 (2004) and paragraph 7 of resolution 1612 (2005);
3) Consider other relevant information presented to it.
4) Make recommendations to the Council on possible measures to promote the protection of children affected by armed conflict, including through recommendations on appropriate mandates for peacekeeping missions and recommendations with respect to parties to the conflict;
5) Address requests, as appropriate, to other bodies within the United Nations system for action to support implementation of Security Council resolution 1612 (2005) in accordance with their respective mandates.
The monitoring and reporting mechanism seeks to monitor the following six grave abuses:
- Killing or maiming of children;
- Recruiting or using child soldiers;
- Attacks against schools or hospitals;
- Rape and other grave sexual violence against children;
- Abduction of children;
- Denial of humanitarian access for children.
The Secretary-General has submitted to the Working Group the first country-specific report on children and armed conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (S/2006/389). In September 2006, the Working Group,issued recommendations to the Security Council on the basis of the report of the Secretary-General, and it also considered the report of the Secretary-General on children and armed conflict in the Sudan (S/2006/662). For the remainder of the year, it is anticipated that the Working Group will consider reports and make recommendations to the Council on children and armed conflict in Burundi, Côte d’Ivoire, Nepal and Sri Lanka. In addition to these country-specific reports of the Secretary-General, the United Nations Secretariat also submits for consideration of the Working Group at its bimonthly meetings a horizontal reporting note that highlights relevant development in all situations of concern for children. The horizontal reporting note represents a vital tool to flag critical emerging situations and update developments in other situations of concern.
Press Statements following the meetings of the Working Group by Ambassador de la Sablière, Permanent Representative of France to the UN and Chairman of the Working Group.