Canadian Statements to the Security Council

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29/04/2009

Canadian Statement to the Security Council Open Debate on Children and Armed Conflict

Statement by Ambassador John McNee
Permanent Representative of Canada to the United Nations
To the United Nations Security Council Open Debate on Children and Armed Conflict

New York, 29 April 2009

 

Mr. President,

I would like to thank you and the delegation of Mexico for convening this important meeting.

Mr. President,

Canada welcomes this open debate and the Secretary General’s annual report on children and armed conflict.  This debate is an opportunity to once again bring to the attention of the Council the severity of continued acts of violence against children.  The devastating toll that armed conflict has on children is evident in far too many present-day contexts, and the impact on their lives is far-reaching.  Sri Lanka, Somalia, Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo are tragic examples where children face injury, death, displacement, sexual and gender based violence, direct and indirect recruitment as soldiers, the separation from family, and loss of educational opportunities – and this list of impacts is sadly not exhaustive.

Canada commends the Security Council for its progressive approach in building a protection framework for children in situations of armed conflict and we also applaud the work of the Secretary General and his team.  In particular, I would like to thank Ms. Radhika Coomaraswamy, the Special Representative for children and armed conflict, for her commitment, her vigorous advocacy and for the wealth of reporting by her office.

Canada strongly supports Security Council Resolution 1612 and the implementation of an effective monitoring and reporting mechanism for violations against children. Canada would like to recognize the tremendous work of UNICEF, and the various NGOs and civil society actors who contribute to the 1612 Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism. The impact of 1612 is real and measurable, as demonstrated by the release of children from the ranks of armed groups around the world.  The Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism has now been implemented or put in place in all the situations listed in the annexes to the Secretary General’s 2007 report.  This is a significant achievement.  We hope to see further advancement of the Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism, engaging with youth and strengthening the mechanism for the security of these children, to improve the protection provided.

Canada wishes to commend the work of the Security Council Working Group created by Resolution1612 and welcomes Mexico as the new chair.  We would also like to acknowledge the outstanding support provided by the Secretariat to the Working Group.  The actionable conclusions and guidance issued by the Working Group have demonstrated the commitment of the Security Council to prevent crimes against children in situations of conflict and ensure those responsible are held accountable under national and international laws.  We hope that in the coming months, the Working Group is able to travel to the field for concrete exposure that would better inform their work.

Thanks to the hard work of these individuals and organizations, there is a much greater awareness of the terrible plight of these children.   There remains, however, an environment of impunity for persistent violators of the most serious crimes against children in situations of armed conflict which has been highlighted by the Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict and the Secretary General.  In this regard, let me take this opportunity to register once again Canada’s strong view that the existing Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism should be triggered by ALL six grave violations against children outlined in 1612.

Mr. President,

We must continue to uphold the rights of children in situations of armed conflict, and also to strengthen and expand them.  Violations of Resolution 1612 continue, including a disturbing increase in rape and other sexual violations against girls and boys.  We have an opportunity before us to fill an important gap in the child protection framework including through negotiation for a new resolution. It should provide for a Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism triggered by the recruitment and use of children, rape and other grave sexual violence, intentional killing and maiming of children, abductions, attacks on schools and hospitals and the denial of humanitarian access to children by parties to armed conflict. We urge the Council to take concrete actions to make this happen.