Marking 20th Anniversary of the 'children and armed conflict' mandate, top UN officials and the international community came together applauding the two decades of efforts to protect children from war.
At the UN General Assembly, members of the 193 states gathered in an informal meeting praising the efforts that saved more than 115,000 children from the ranks of State forces and armed groups, according to Kuwait News Agency (KUNA).
On behalf of the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, Chef de Cabinet Maria Luiza Viotti delivered a message saying that the General Assembly resolution 51/77 has helped make a tangible difference to the lives of boys and girls in many countries.
"Since its creation in 1996, the children and armed conflict mandate has galvinised much-needed collective efforts to bring an end to egregious violations against children," she said.
The UN Chief thanked in his message the efforts of Governments, the UN and civil society partners, more than 115,000 children have been released from the ranks of State forces and armed groups. However, Viotti said the persistence and multiplication of conflicts continues to place children at grave risk, and the only way we can truly protect children is by preventing conflict.
She urgently called on to prioritize support to children who have been affected by armed conflict, and education, particularly in emergency settings, must be a key element of our response.
On his part, the President of the 71st General Assembly, Peter Thomson, called the resolution "a landmark development in our global efforts to improve the protection of children in conflict situations." He said among the incomprehensible horrors that take place in the chaos of warzones, unconscionable crimes, violations, exploitation and abuse are perpetrated against the most vulnerable members of the societies - namely the children.
He called for a concerted effort to protect children in armed conflict as part of the international community's commitments to peace and security, sustainable development and human rights.
The resolution profoundly concerned that the situation of children in many parts of the world remains critical as a result of inadequate social and economic conditions, poverty, natural disasters, armed conflicts, displacement, exploitation, racism and all forms of intolerance, unemployment, rural-to-urban migration, illiteracy, hunger, disability and drug abuse, and convinced that urgent and effective national and international action is called for - KUNA reported.

Source: BNA