Children and armed conflict – Report of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict (A/HRC/52/60)

9 January 2023

Human Rights Council

Fifty-second session

27 February–31 March 2023

Agenda item 3

Promotion and protection of all human rights, civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development

Summary

In the present report, which covers the period from December 2021 to December 2022, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict explores challenges in ending and preventing grave violations against and strengthening the protection of children affected by armed conflict. She outlines the activities carried out 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 efforts to build partnerships, including with regional organizations and international partners. At the end of her report, the Special Representative outlines priorities and makes recommendations to enhance the protection of children affected by conflict.

Excerpts: 

15. In Israel and the State of Palestine, the Special Representative continued her engagement with the Israeli authorities and Palestinian armed groups in accordance with the request of the Secretary-General in his last report on children and armed conflict, as well as with Palestinian authorities, to prevent any more violations against children and to adopt clear and time-bound commitments. A technical visit by the Office of the Special Representative took place in October 2022 to identify the main prevention and protection commitments that the parties mentioned in the report of the Secretary-General could adopt, including timebound activities to better protect children, to dialogue with parties to the conflict and to prepare the Special Representative’s visit.

39. The Special Representative visited Israel and the State of Palestine in December 2022 to meet senior government representatives and exchange on the situation of children affected by armed conflict in Israel and the State of Palestine, building on a technical visit by her Office in October 2022. In particular, the Special Representative followed up on the call of the Secretary-General in his last annual report on children and armed conflict for all parties to continue to engage with her and the United Nations to end and prevent grave violations against children and to better protect children and respect international humanitarian law and international human rights law. Furthermore, the Special Representative interacted with representatives of the Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad brigades specifically mentioned as parties in the Secretary-General’s report.