Statement by Chairman of Security Council Working Group

 

on Children and Armed Conflict

 

At its thirtieth meeting on 2 May 2011, the Security Council Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict agreed, in connection with the examination of the second report of the Secretary-General on children and armed conflict in Afghanistan (document S/2011/55), to address the following message, through public statements issued by the Chairman of the Working Group:

To all armed groups mentioned in the report of the Secretary-General, specifically the Taliban, the Haqqani network, Hezb-i-Islami, Jamat Sunat al-Dawa Salafia and the Tora Bora Front:

(a)            Expressing its condemnation in the strongest terms of the recruitment and use of children, in particular the training and use of children to commit terrorist attacks, suicide attacks and all other violations and abuses committed against children in Afghanistan, including killing and maiming resulting, inter alia, from attacks in public places and/or the targeting of schoolchildren, particularly girls, abduction and sexual violence against children, as well as other use of force in contravention of international humanitarian law;

(b)            Expressing also its condemnation in the strongest terms of the attacks against humanitarian actors;

(c)            Expressing deep concern regarding the continued trend of killing and maiming of children in violation of applicable international law, and reminding them of their obligations under international law;

(d)            Urging them to implement the previous conclusions of the Working Group on children and armed conflict in Afghanistan (document S/AC.51/2009/1);

(e)            Strongly urging them to immediately halt the recruitment and use of children, and calling upon them to undertake a dialogue with the United Nations country team in Afghanistan to prepare, adopt and implement without delay action plans for the release of children and cease any new recruitment and use, and other violations and abuses, as called for in Security Council resolutions 1539 (2004), 1612 (2005) and 1882 (2009);

(f)            Emphasizing that the full implementation of an action plan in line with Security Council resolutions 1539 (2004), 1612 (2005), and 1882 (2009), verified by the task force on monitoring and reporting, is an important step for a party to conflict to take in order to be de-listed from the annexes of the report of the Secretary-General on children and armed conflict;

(g)            Also urging them to take immediate and specific measures to put an end to and prevent the perpetration of sexual violence by members of their respective groups, in particular the practice of bacha baazi, to take measures so that perpetrators are brought to justice and to publicly declare an end to such practice;

(h)            Further calling upon them to comply with the principles of international law and to recognize and maintain the neutrality and safety of schools and hospitals, including their personnel, as “zones of peace” and cease attacks or threats of attacks against those institutions.

To community and religious leaders urging them:

(a)            To renew their public condemnation and advocate to prevent the recruitment and use of children, in violation of applicable international law, in particular using them to commit terrorist acts, all other violations committed against children, including the killing and maiming of civilians, targeting schools and hospitals and sexual violence against children, and attacks against humanitarian personnel;

(b)            To assist the Government of Afghanistan and the United Nations country team to implement the Action Plan and its annexes.

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For information media • not an official record