Statement by Chairman of Security Council Working Group

 

on Children and Armed Conflict

 

At its thirty-fourth meeting on 5 October 2012, the Security Council Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict agreed, in connection with the examination of the fourth report of the Secretary-General on children and armed conflict in the Sudan (document S/2012/413), to address the following message to all the parties to the armed conflict in the Sudan mentioned in the report of the Secretary-General through a public statement by its Chair:

(a)   Expressing deep concern regarding the continuing violations and abuses committed against children in the Sudan by all parties to the conflict, and urging the immediate implementation, as relevant to the Sudan following the independence of South Sudan, of the previous conclusions of the Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict in the Sudan (documents S/AC.51/2007/5, annex; S/AC.51/2008/7; and S/AC.51/2009/5);

(b)   Expressing concern regarding continued reports of killing and maiming in contravention of international law, rape and sexual violence against children in conflict-affected areas, and urging national authorities to end impunity through rigorous and timely investigation and prosecution, to strengthen prevention efforts and to ensure that effective support is provided to the victims of violence;

(c)   Expressing serious concern that, while the overall humanitarian situation in Darfur has not deteriorated, it has not improved, demanding that the Government of the Sudan, all militias, armed groups and all other stakeholders ensure the full, safe and unhindered access of humanitarian organizations and relief personnel and the delivery of humanitarian assistance to populations in need, and underscoring the importance of upholding the principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence in the provision of humanitarian assistance;

(d)   Welcoming the memorandums of understanding reached separately by the Government of the Sudan and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North with the United Nations, the African Union and the League of Arab States to enable the urgent delivery of humanitarian assistance to affected civilian populations in Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile States, in accordance with the tripartite plan proposed by the United Nations, the African Union and the League of Arab States, and calling upon the Government and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North to fully implement the terms of that plan in order to expedite the unhindered delivery of such assistance as rapidly as possible, in accordance with applicable international law, including applicable international humanitarian law, the guiding principles contained in the annex to General Assembly resolution 46/182 and the principles of neutrality, impartiality, humanity and independence for the provision of humanitarian assistance, and the safe, unhindered and immediate access of United Nations and other humanitarian personnel;

(e)   Expressing deep concern regarding reported incidents of attacks on schools and hospitals by the parties to the conflict;

(f)   Strongly urging all parties to the conflict to immediately halt the recruitment and use of children in violation of applicable international law and to release all children remaining within their ranks, as called for by the Security Council in its resolutions 1539 (2004) and 1612 (2005);

(g)   Welcoming the efforts of the Government of the Sudan to ensure the protection of children, including by strengthening the legislative framework for the protection of children through the adoption of the Child Act in 2010;

(h)   Calling upon the parties to the conflict in the Sudan listed in annex I to the report of the Secretary-General on children and armed conflict (document S/2011/250), who have not yet developed and completed an action plan (the Justice and Equality Movement, the Sudan Liberation Army-Abdul Wahid, the Sudan Liberation Army-Historical Leadership and the Sudan Liberation Army-Unity) to engage in dialogue with the United Nations, with a view to developing and completing an action plan that details steps to halt the violations for which they are listed and to comply with Security Council resolutions 1539 (2004), 1612 (2005), 1882 (2009) and 1998 (2011);

(i)   Welcoming the signing and implementation of action plans by the Sudan Liberation Army-Free Will, the Sudan Liberation Army-Mother Wing (Abu Gasim) and the Justice and Equality Movement (Peace Wing), in addition to the progress made by those parties in releasing children and implementing the terms and conditions of the action plans, and urging those parties to continue to do so;

(j)   Urging those parties, in addition to previous signatories to action plans (the Sudan Liberation Army/Minni Minawi), to ensure the full implementation of those plans and to provide full and unimpeded access for United Nations verification, as agreed upon therein;

(k)   Encouraging the United Nations to continue its efforts to reach out to all other parties in the Sudan listed in annex I to the report of the Secretary-General on children and armed conflict in order to elicit commitments to action plans to end violations and abuses against children;

(l)   Stressing the importance of finding a political solution to the conflict in Darfur in order to improve the current situation of children, and in that regard calling upon those parties to the conflict that have not yet done so to join the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur;

(m)   Reminding all parties of their obligations under applicable law to cease the recruitment and use of children and to actively identify and immediately release those children already in their ranks.

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For information media • not an official record