New York — As delivered
“Excellencies,
“Good morning. Thanks to Colombia, and Safety Council President Ambassador Leonor Zalabata, for convening this vital debate.
“Thanks additionally to the Particular Consultant of the Secretary-Normal for Kids and Armed Battle, Vanessa Frazier, and to the civil society consultant, for his or her briefings.
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“Excellencies,
“A faculty … a hospital … a water level … ought to by no means be a battlefield. And no little one ought to have to wonder if getting into a classroom or well being facility may cost her life.
“But for hundreds of thousands of youngsters residing via battle, that’s exactly the truth they face each single day.
“The Secretary-Normal’s newest report on Kids and Armed Battle paperwork 38,558 verified grave violations towards youngsters in 2025. Behind that quantity are youngsters killed and maimed … recruited and utilized by armed forces and armed teams … kidnapped … subjected to sexual violence … denied humanitarian help … and disadvantaged of training, well being, and safety.
“These alarming figures inform solely a part of the story.
“Many extra violations go unreported due to insecurity, entry constraints, concern of reprisals, and the immense challenges of documenting abuses in lively struggle zones.
“These figures present that protections for kids beneath worldwide legislation are being violated extra usually and at higher price.
“The report additionally highlights a deeply troubling improvement: for the primary time, authorities forces and affiliated actors are accountable for extra grave violations towards youngsters than non-State armed teams.
“This discovering ought to alarm each Member State represented on this chamber. States have a duty to uphold the authorized and coverage frameworks that defend youngsters … to make sure that their forces adjust to worldwide legislation … and to analyze and maintain these accountable for grave violations to account.
“We should act with the urgency and consistency that this actuality calls for.
“In my missions with UNICEF, I’ve met youngsters who’ve fled their houses and communities due to battle … youngsters who witnessed the killing of relations, buddies, and neighbors … and ladies who had been subjected to horrific sexual violence by armed actors.
“Their experiences remind us that each verified violation on this report represents a toddler whose security, dignity, and future have been profoundly affected.
“Excellencies …
“The report identifies a number of different deeply regarding traits.
“First, youngsters proceed to be killed and maimed at staggering ranges by explosive weapons in populated areas.
“In 2025, nearly 70 per cent of kid casualties had been attributable to explosive weapons. The very best numbers had been verified in Ukraine, Afghanistan, Myanmar, Israel and the State of Palestine, and Lebanon.
“Along with inflicting hurt, these weapons destroy colleges, hospitals, water techniques, energy networks, and different civilian infrastructure important for kids’s survival and restoration. They go away behind unexploded ordnance that may proceed to kill and maim youngsters years after hostilities have ended.
“Events to battle should defend civilians … and should not use explosive weapons in populated areas. States should strengthen–not weaken–the worldwide frameworks designed to guard civilians, together with youngsters.
“A second alarming development is the rising variety of youngsters subjected to a number of grave violations. In 2025, this quantity elevated once more, to greater than 3,100 youngsters.
“Which means a toddler has had a number of horrible issues occur to them. They’re kidnapped or recruited, and in lots of instances, additionally subjected to rape or different types of sexual violence.
“For women particularly, abduction is commonly not a single violation. It marks the start of a protracted, horrific cycle of abuse, exploitation, and social exclusion upon launch.
“Kids who survive these experiences require sustained safety, restoration, reintegration, and survivor-centred assist. Additionally they deserve accountability.
“A 3rd main supply of concern is the alarming rise within the denial of humanitarian entry. In 2025, the United Nations verified greater than 8,000 incidents involving restrictions on humanitarian operations, assaults on humanitarian personnel and belongings, and interference with the supply of help.
“The very best numbers had been verified in Israel and the State of Palestine, Libya, and Ukraine.
“When humanitarian entry is denied, youngsters are disadvantaged of healthcare, diet, training, safety providers, and different types of life-saving assist.
“As well as, humanitarian staff themselves are more and more beneath assault. Most of these killed, injured, or detained are native humanitarian staff on the frontlines of crises in their very own communities.
“Events to battle should facilitate secure, well timed, and unimpeded entry for humanitarian actors. Member States should use their affect to safeguard principled humanitarian motion, and to make sure respect for worldwide humanitarian legislation.
“Excellencies …
“The report factors to a broader problem … that the character of warfare is quickly evolving.
“The elevated use of drones, autonomous and remotely operated techniques, and synthetic intelligence-supported concentrating on raises critical considerations … particularly when these applied sciences and weapons are utilized in populated areas the place youngsters stay, study, and search care.
“Past the quick threat of dying or harm, drones can even have extreme psychological impacts on youngsters. The fixed, terrifying presence of drones can deprive youngsters of any sense of security, as they go to highschool, play, or attempt to sleep.
“As the character of warfare evolves, our dedication to defending youngsters should stay steadfast. And we should be certain that safeguards for kids are upheld.
“Excellencies …
“Even amid these troubling traits, there are some causes for hope. The Kids and Armed Battle agenda continues to exhibit that progress is feasible.
“In 2025, greater than 13,000 youngsters left armed forces or armed teams. These youngsters acquired reintegration and safety assist from UNICEF and our companions.
“Governments and non-State armed teams engaged with the United Nations … negotiated commitments … carried out preventive measures … and took steps to launch youngsters and stop future violations.
“In Colombia, for instance, the Authorities has strengthened prevention measures towards recruitment and use, sexual violence, and assaults affecting training. These efforts embody the adoption of prevention methods and tips for varsity threat administration and training in emergencies.
“In Haiti, authorities launched initiatives to stop recruitment by armed teams, and to assist the reintegration of affected youngsters.
“And in Syria, the Authorities has dedicated to stopping the recruitment and use of youngsters … and is working with the United Nations on strengthening its safety commitments.
“Necessary engagement has additionally continued in Mozambique, Libya, Somalia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Yemen, South Sudan, and Sudan.
“These examples remind us that the CAAC framework works … when there’s political will … when there’s sustained engagement … and when humanitarians are given the assist, entry, and safety they want.
“Excellencies …
“Permit me to conclude with six suggestions.
“First, Member States should use their affect to make sure that all events to battle adhere to their obligations to respect worldwide humanitarian legislation and worldwide human rights legislation. In mild of the knowledge contained on this report, nobody can plead ignorance in regards to the affect of struggle on youngsters.
“Political, navy, monetary, and different types of assist needs to be knowledgeable by strong assessments of the dangers to youngsters. The place dangers are recognized, assist needs to be accompanied by concrete measures to stop, mitigate, and tackle hurt.
“States also needs to keep away from transferring weapons when there’s a clear threat they might be used to commit or allow grave violations towards youngsters.
“Second, all events in battle should take concrete steps to guard youngsters.
“This contains defending colleges, college students, academics, and training personnel … ending assaults on training … refraining from the navy use of faculties … issuing clear command orders to guard training … and making certain accountability for violations.
“Events listed within the Secretary-Normal’s report should have interaction with the United Nations to undertake and implement motion plans to stop and finish grave violations directly.
“Third, youngsters related to armed forces or armed teams should be handled primarily as victims.
“They need to be launched promptly and transferred to civilian little one safety actors for care, household reunification, and reintegration.
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“Fourth, the Safety Council should proceed to defend and strengthen the Kids and Armed Battle agenda.
“This contains preserving the Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism … making certain that choices stay evidence-based … sustaining a well timed and totally functioning Working Group … and utilizing all accessible instruments to press events to have interaction with the agenda and defend youngsters.
“Fifth, Member States should safeguard humanitarian motion.
“The rise in assaults on humanitarian personnel and the rising denial of humanitarian entry is appalling and will immediate pressing motion by this Council.
“Lastly, Member States ought to strengthen the authorized and coverage frameworks that defend youngsters in armed battle.
“This requires continued dedication to treaties which have helped scale back civilian hurt, together with the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Conference, and the Conference on Cluster Munitions.
“This additionally contains continued assist for the vary of worldwide devices to guard youngsters, together with the Protected Colleges Declaration … the Political Declaration on the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas … the Paris Ideas … the Vancouver Ideas … and the Declaration for the Safety of Humanitarian Personnel.
“Excellencies …
“At a time when youngsters are dealing with unprecedented ranges of hurt in battle, the Kids and Armed Battle agenda wants sturdy political and monetary assist.
“Funding cuts are weakening little one safety capacities exactly when wants are rising. They’re lowering assist for kids affected by grave violations … together with household tracing and reunification, psychological well being and psychosocial assist, reintegration providers, survivor-centred care, and secure entry to training and healthcare.
“Defending youngsters can’t be a peripheral concern of peace and safety.
“It should be central to it.
“Kids don’t begin wars, and they’re powerless to cease them. They die, they endure, and so they bear the scars of struggle for many years.”
“We owe them greater than that. We owe them a world the place struggle is left to combatants, and kids are free to develop and study and dream in peace. Is that actually asking an excessive amount of?
“Thanks very a lot.”