Historique | Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict

The mandate of the Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict was created by the UN General Assembly in December 1996 in order to strengthen the protection of children affected by armed conflict, raise awareness, promote the collection of information on the fate of children affected by war and promote international cooperation to improve their protection.

A strong commitment from the international community and the highest levels of the UN has enabled the mandate of the Special Representative to remain in constant evolution in order to better respond to the needs of children affected by war.

Chronology

1996 – Report by Graça Machel,”The impact of armed conflicts on children”

In her report to the General Assembly, Graça Machel, a former education minister of Mozambique, highlighted the disproportionate impact of war on children and identified them as the main victims of armed conflict. The report led to the adoption of General Assembly resolution 51/77, which created the mandate and recommended that the Secretary-General appoint a Special Representative on the Impact of Armed Conflict on Children. The resolution also requested that the Special Representative prepare reports on the situation of children affected by armed conflict to the UN General Assembly and the Human Rights Council.

1998 – First UN Security Council debate on children and armed conflict. The Security Council expressed support for the Special Representative’s mandate in a presidential statement.

1999 РR̩solution 1261 du Conseil de s̩curit̩

The first resolution adopted by the UN Security Council on children and armed conflict placed the issue of children affected by war on the Security Council’s agenda. The Council identified and condemned the six serious violations committed against children in times of conflict, and requested the Secretary-General to present an initial report on the plight of children in times of armed conflict as an issue affecting peace and security.

2000 РR̩solution 1314 du Conseil de s̩curit̩

The second resolution on children and armed conflict reaffirmed that deliberate targeting of civilians, including children, can pose a threat to peace and security and called on the Secretary-General to continue reporting violations to the Security Council committed against children in times of conflict.

Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict

On May 25, 2000, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Optional Protocol to protect children under the age of 18 from recruitment and use in conflict.

2001 РR̩solution 1379 du Conseil de s̩curit̩

The Security Council requested the Secretary-General to list the parties to the conflict who recruit or use children, in violation of the international obligations applicable to them, in situations which are on the agenda of the Security Council or which may be brought to the attention of the Security Council by the Secretary-General, in accordance with Article 99 of the United Nations Charter.

2002 – The Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict enters into force on February 12.

The date is now known as the International Day Against the Use of Child Soldiers.

2003 РR̩solution 1460 du Conseil de s̩curit̩

This resolution supports the Secretary-General’s call for “an era of implementation” of international norms and standards for the protection of children affected by armed conflict. Expresses the intention of the Security Council to enter into dialogue or support the efforts of the Secretary-General in dialogue with the parties to conflict that recruit or use children in order to develop clear action plans to end this practice. Invites parties to the conflict listed by the Secretary-General to provide information on measures taken to end the recruitment and use of children.

2004 РR̩solution 1539 du Conseil de s̩curit̩

Requests the Secretary-General to develop a systematic and comprehensive monitoring and reporting mechanism to provide accurate and reliable information on the recruitment and use of children and other violations and abuses committed against children affected by armed conflict. Requests parties to conflicts identified by the Secretary-General to prepare concrete, time-bound action plans to end the recruitment and use of children in close collaboration with the UN. Expresses its intention to consider imposing targeted and progressive measures (sanctions) against parties that do not develop an action plan or that do not respect the commitments included in their action plan.

2005 РR̩solution 1612 du Conseil de s̩curit̩

Endorses the monitoring and reporting mechanism proposed by the Secretary-General to collect up-to-date and reliable information on violations committed against children affected by armed conflict. The Security Council establishes a subsidiary body, the Security Council Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict, to review information provided by the monitoring and reporting mechanism on country situations and to make recommendations to the Council on measures to promote the protection of children affected by armed conflict.

2009 РR̩solution 1882 du Conseil de s̩curit̩

Murder and mutilation, rape and other forms of sexual violence against children become violations leading to the identification of parties to armed conflict in the annexes to the annual report of the Secretary-General on children and armed conflict.

 

2011 РR̩solution 1998 du Conseil de s̩curit̩

Attacks on schools and hospitals and threats against protected personnel become violations leading to the identification of parties to armed conflict in the annexes to the annual report of the Secretary-General on children and armed conflict.

2012 РR̩solution 2068 du Conseil de s̩curit̩

Reiterates the Council’s desire to adopt targeted and progressive measures (sanctions) against repeat perpetrators of serious violations against children.

2014 РR̩solution 2143 du Conseil de s̩curit̩

Encourages Member States to consider concrete measures to discourage the military use of schools and endorses “Children Not Soldiers,” a campaign to end the recruitment and use of children by government armed forces in conflict by the end of 2016.