STATEMENT BY CHAIR OF SECURITY COUNCIL WORKING GROUP

 

ON CHILDREN AND ARMED CONFLICT

 

At its fortieth meeting, on 16 August 2013, the Security Council Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict agreed, in connection with the examination of the third report of the Secretary-General on children and armed conflict in Myanmar dated 1 May 2013 (S/2013/258), to address the following message to all parties to the armed conflict in Myanmar mentioned in the report of the Secretary-General through a public statement by its Chair:

(a)Welcoming the ongoing efforts to address the issue of recruitment and use of children in Myanmar and the progress made in that respect since the last conclusions of the Working Group (S/AC.51/2009/4);

(b)Welcoming the signature by the Government of Myanmar and the country task force on monitoring and reporting of an action plan to end and prevent the recruitment and use of children in the Tatmadaw, including the integrated border guard forces, as well as the releases of children from the Tatmadaw, and urging the Government of Myanmar to take measures towards the full implementation of the action plan, which is an important step for a party to be delisted from the annexes to the report of the Secretary-General on children and armed conflict;

(c)Taking note with appreciation of the memorandum of understanding signed in June 2012 by the Government of Myanmar with the International Labour Organization (ILO) to end, by 2015, the use of forced labour, including the recruitment of children;

(d)Stressing the importance of ensuring that the issue of child protection, including the release and reintegration of children, is integrated into ceasefire and/or peace talks and agreements;

(e)Expressing deep concern about the continued recruitment and use of children in violation of international law by all parties to the armed conflict, as well as the continued abductions of children, including for recruitment purposes;

(f)Expressing concern regarding reports of killing and maiming of children in violation of applicable international law, including through the use of anti-personnel landmines, as well as military actions that impede the safe access of children to education and health services;

(g)While acknowledging some progress in humanitarian access to vulnerable groups, including children, expressing concern about continued restrictions in certain areas of the country, which are an obstacle to providing essential humanitarian assistance for children;

(h)Demanding that all parties to the armed conflict further implement previous conclusions of the Working Group (S/AC.51/2008/9, S/AC.51/2009/4) and urging them to take measures to prevent and to cease immediately all violations of international law involving:

(i)            Recruitment and use of children;

(ii)        Abduction of children;

(iii)    Denial of humanitarian access, including to internally displaced persons, in conflict areas;

(iv)        Killing and maiming of children;

(v)            Acts of rape and all other forms of sexual violence against children;

(vi)        Attacks on schools and hospitals, including their personnel;

(i)Also urging all non-State actors to take all necessary action towards the full implementation of their commitments and obligations and to expeditiously develop action plans in line with Security Council resolutions 1539 (2004), 1612 (2005), 1882 (2009), 1998 (2011) and 2068 (2012).

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For information media • not an official record