Children and armed conflict – Report of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict (A/HRC/55/57)

28 December 2023

Human Rights Council
Fifty-fifth session
26 February–5 April 2024
Agenda item 3
Promotion and protection of all human rights, civil,
political, economic, social and cultural rights,
including the right to development

Children and armed conflict

Report of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict

Summary:

In the present report, which covers the period from December 2022 to December 2023, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict explores challenges in ending and preventing grave violations against children and in strengthening the protection of children affected by armed conflict. She outlines the activities undertaken in discharging her mandate and the challenges faced and progress achieved in addressing grave violations against children. The Special Representative also lays out her advocacy activities, including through her focus on lessons learned and best practices. She provides information on her field visits and her efforts to build partnerships, including with regional organizations and international partners. The Special Representative also outlines priorities and makes recommendations to enhance the protection of children affected by conflict.

Excerpts:

12. In Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory, in December 2022, the Special Representative conducted a visit to continue her engagement with the Israeli authorities and Palestinian armed groups to adopt clear and time-bound commitments to end and prevent grave violations against children, in accordance with the request of the Secretary-General in his report on children and armed conflict published in June 2022,4 as well as with Palestinian authorities. Her visit concluded with an exchange of letters with Israel, the appointment of a focal point and the identification of practical measures. She discussed all grave violations against children with the parties and possible measures to urgently strengthen the protection of children in Israel, the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip. Letters were also received from Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, a focal point was appointed and practical measures were identified. In 2023, the Special Representative issued public statements on the situation in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory, expressing her concern over the grave situation affecting children and calling on all parties to seek a peaceful resolution of the conflict and humanitarian access to children, and to release abducted children.