Security Council 2127 Committee Meets Special Representative of Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict

On 10 October 2023, the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 2127 (2013) concerning the Central African Republic received a briefing from Virginia Gamba, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict.

The Special Representative noted that while the number of verified grave violations against children remained high, there had been a noted decrease by more than 50 per cent compared to 2021 figures.  She further stated that violations were believed to be underreported and expressed concern over the denial of humanitarian access to boys and girls in need of protection, as well as attacks against humanitarian workers.  Armed groups continued to be responsible for the majority of cases of abduction, recruitment and sexual violations against children.

The SRSG further called on all parties to respect the civilian characters of schools and hospitals and to put in place swift and effective measures to prevent the military use of schools.  She also commended the Government for having adopted in April 2022 a national plan to counter trafficking in children, with a focus on preventing the use of children by the armed forces, and a circular prohibiting the presence of children around military bases of the armed forces and MINUSCA.

Members of the Committee thanked Special Representative Gamba for her briefing and expressed support for her work.