Statement by Chairman of Security Council Working Group

 

on Children and Armed Conflict

 

The following statement by the Chairman of the Security Council Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict was issued in New York, 9 December:

At the twenty-seventh meeting of the Security Council Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict, held on 9 November 2010, the Working Group agreed, in connection with the consideration of the Report of the Secretary-General on children and armed conflict in the Philippines (document S/2010/36),and subject to and consistent with applicable international law and Security Council resolutions on children and armed conflict, including Security Council resolutions 1612 (2005) and 1882 (2009), to address a message to all parties to armed conflict in the Philippines, in particular those groups mentioned in the Secretary-General’s report, through a public statement by its Chairman on behalf of the Working Group:

(a)            Strongly condemningall violations and abuses committed against children by all parties to the conflict in contravention of applicable international law involving the recruitment and use of children, killing and maiming, rape and other sexual violence, abductions, attacks against schools or hospitals and denial of humanitarian access;

(b)            Urging them to take all necessary actions towards the full implementation of their commitments and obligations through the expeditious development andimplementation of action plans in line with Security Council resolutions 1612 (2005) and 1882 (2009);

(c)            Expressing deep concern regarding the fact that, there have been more cases, in contravention of international law, of recruitment of children, a greater number of children killed and maimed, a notable increase in the use of improvised explosive devices in populated areas and a considerable increase in cases of attacks on schools and hospitals and denial of humanitarian access during this reporting period.

(d)            Emphasizing:

i.                That the preparation and full implementation of an action plan in line with Security Council resolutions 1612 (2005) and 1882 (2009), verified by the United Nations Task Force on Monitoring and Reporting, is an important step to take for a party to conflict to be de-listed from the annexes to the reports of the Secretary-General on children and armed conflict;

ii.            That the Working Group will closely monitor, through the reports of the Secretary-General on children and armed conflict, progress on eliminating the violations and abuses set out in Security Council resolutions 1612 (2005) and 1882 (2009) by all parties to the conflict in the Philippines, until there is a complete release and reintegration of children associated with them and full implementation of action plans;

iii.        Its readiness to adoptfurther steps against persistent perpetrators if they do not abide by their obligations under applicable international law with respect to children and armed conflicts.

To the leadership of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF):

(a)            Welcoming the signing of an action plan with the United Nations in July 2009 to prevent the recruitment and use of children in accordance with Security Council resolution 1612 (2005) and as requested in the previous Working Group’s conclusions on the Philippines (S.AC.51/2008/10);

(b)            Welcoming MILF’s signature of the Agreement on Civilian Protection Component of the International Monitoring Team, which recalls MILF’S obligations under applicable international lawand includes provisions for the preservation of facilities vital for the survival of civilians, such as schools, hospitals and relief distribution sites. 

(c)            Urging it:

i.                To take all necessary actions towards the full and expeditiousimplementation of the action plan signed in line with Security Council resolutions 1539 (2004), 1612 (2005) and 1882 (2009), and rapidly register and release all children still present within its ranks in a manner that allows effective confirmation and follow-up by the country task force on monitoring and reporting;

ii.            To immediately halt all violations and abuses committed against children, in particular killing and maiming and attacks against schools in violation of applicable international lawand to fully recognize and respect the civilian status of schools.

iii.        To immediately issue a supplemental general order to facilitate the release of children that may be found within their ranks as well as the implementation of necessary sanctions for non-compliance with the provisions of the action plan signed.

iv.   To clarify as a matter of priority, how the action plan will be implemented among all its units.

To the leadership of the New People’s Army:

(a)            Urging it:

i.                To immediately halt all violations and abuses committed against children, in contravention of international law, involving the recruitment and use of children and killing and maiming of children;

ii.            To engage in the development of a concrete time-bound action plan to halt the recruitment and use of children in contravention of applicable international law, in accordance with Security Council resolutions 1539 (2004), 1612 (2005), 1882 (2009) and ensure the immediate separation of any children associated with them; 

iii.        To facilitate the handover of children associated with them to local social welfare agencies as appropriate, to be provided with rehabilitation services;

iv.            To allow unimpeded access of monitoring and reporting teams in order to facilitate monitoring and verification on the situation of children in armed conflict, and to guarantee the safety and security of these teams;

v.                To designate monitoring focal points within its ranks.

The Working Group also agreed to release a statement in the following terms:

(a)             Strongly condemning the recruitment and use of children, including for military operations and terror acts, the killing and maiming of children, as well as all other violations committed against children by the Abu Sayyaf Group as reflected in the report by the Secretary-General on children and armed conflict in the Philippines (S/2010/36).

(b)             Stressing that:

i.    Consistent with relevant Security Council resolutions and applicable international law, the Abu Sayyaf Group must ensure that children are not used in any military operation or terror act, proceed with the immediate release of all children associated with it in any capacity, in a manner that allows effective confirmation by the United Nations task force on monitoring and reporting, and to halt all attacks, in particular kidnappings, committed against humanitarian workers and teachers.

ii.   In accordance with Security Council resolutions 1539 (2004), 1612 (2005) and 1882 (2009) the Abu Sayyaf Group must develop and implement a concrete time-bound action plan to halt the recruitment and use of children, and prevent any new recruitment or re-recruitment.

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For information media • not an official record