EU Statement - UN Security Council: Open debate on Children and armed conflict

Check against delivery Mr President,I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the European Union and its Member States. The Candidate Countries North Macedonia*, Montenegro*, Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina*, as well as San Marino align themselves with this statement. The report of the Secretary General on Children and Armed Conflict once again shows an alarming increase in violations committed against children in conflict situations. Following an already deeply concerning rise in the numbers for 2023 as discussed in this Chamber a year ago, we are now confronted with a further staggering 25 per cent upsurge of verified violations in the report for 2024. We are especially alarmed by the sharp rise in rape and other forms of sexual violence, in particular cases of gang rape, among the cases covered by the report. While girls are severely and disproportionately affected by sexual violence, boys were affected as well. The message is clear: children are bearing the brunt of the rise in conflict-related violence we observe around the globe. This is unacceptable. We must do more to prevent such violations, and ensure accountability is brought to bear against perpetrators. The EU urges all parties to armed conflict to uphold their obligations under international law and take concrete steps to prevent violations against children. The fight against impunity is essential in this context. There must be zero tolerance for violations of...