The document discusses the plight of children and youth affected by armed conflict. It notes that children experience suffering such as death, injury, lack of access to education and healthcare. While girls face disproportionate targeting, boys also experience sexual violence. The UN has worked to draw attention to these issues and protect children's rights through the appointment of a Special Representative and cooperation between agencies. Notable progress includes the release of thousands of child soldiers and a commitment to impose sanctions on persistent violators of children's rights.
In December 2009, the United Nations General Assembly adopted resolution 64/134 proclaiming the Year, signifying the importance the international community places on integrating youth-related issues into global, regional, and national development agendas. Under the theme Dialogue and Mutual Understanding, the Year aims to promote the ideals of peace, respect for human rights and solidarity across generations, cultures, religions and civilizations.
It's UNESCO MGIEP's bi-annual magazine. The Blue Dot features articles showcasing UNESCO MGIEP’s activities and areas of interest. The magazine’s overarching theme is the relationship between education, peace and sustainable development and education for global citizenship.
In December 2009, the United Nations General Assembly adopted resolution 64/134 proclaiming the Year, signifying the importance the international community places on integrating youth-related issues into global, regional, and national development agendas. Under the theme Dialogue and Mutual Understanding, the Year aims to promote the ideals of peace, respect for human rights and solidarity across generations, cultures, religions and civilizations.
It's UNESCO MGIEP's bi-annual magazine. The Blue Dot features articles showcasing UNESCO MGIEP’s activities and areas of interest. The magazine’s overarching theme is the relationship between education, peace and sustainable development and education for global citizenship.
Continuing the legacy sa non-permanent member of the unSABC News
South Africa will use the opportunity, as a non-permanent member of the UNSC, to promote Africa's goal to silence the guns by 2020 and achieve peace in all the regions of the world.
The purpose of the guide is to provide Member States with information on national youth delegates to the United Nations and practical guidance on developing youth delegate programmes. The Guide presents the many avenues through which young people may take part in the work of their national delegations, including by highlighting how some Member States have enabled youth to participate inthe intergovernmental processes at the United Nations
“YOUTH AND ARMED CONFLICT: TO EXPRESS WITHOUT A FEAR, TO PROGRESS WITHOUT A T...Kebareileng Matlhape
We, the 210 young people from 43 countries around the world, attending the 15th Melaka International Youth Dialogue (MIYD), convened in Melaka from 22nd – 24th June, 2015 for an annual program organized by the World Assembly of Youth (WAY):
Children in Danger: Act to End Violence Against Children ABA IHRC
Every five minutes, a child is killed by violence, a new report by UNICEF UK said. A majority of these deaths occur outside of war zones. The report, published this week by the UK branch of the United Nations children’s agency, said that violence kills more than 340 people under the age of 20 every day around the globe. Seventy-five percent of these deaths are reportedly caused by interpersonal violence, rather than war.
Presentation made in River Gee County, Republic of Liberia on the enhancement of Youth Participation in the 2017 Legislative and Presidential Elections.
KEY FOCUS DOCUMENTS:
THE UNITED NATION SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION 2250
AND THE LIBERIA PEACE BUILDING PLAN
Materiāli sagatavoti starptautiskās akcijas Pasaules lielākā mācību stunda ietvaros.
Plašāk: http://worldslargestlesson.globalgoals.org/
Latvijā: www.skolas.unesco.lv
Multidisciplinary Journal Supported by TETFund. The journals would publish papers covering a wide range of subjects in journal science, management science, educational, agricultural, architectural, accounting and finance, business administration, entrepreneurship, business education, all journals
Continuing the legacy sa non-permanent member of the unSABC News
South Africa will use the opportunity, as a non-permanent member of the UNSC, to promote Africa's goal to silence the guns by 2020 and achieve peace in all the regions of the world.
The purpose of the guide is to provide Member States with information on national youth delegates to the United Nations and practical guidance on developing youth delegate programmes. The Guide presents the many avenues through which young people may take part in the work of their national delegations, including by highlighting how some Member States have enabled youth to participate inthe intergovernmental processes at the United Nations
“YOUTH AND ARMED CONFLICT: TO EXPRESS WITHOUT A FEAR, TO PROGRESS WITHOUT A T...Kebareileng Matlhape
We, the 210 young people from 43 countries around the world, attending the 15th Melaka International Youth Dialogue (MIYD), convened in Melaka from 22nd – 24th June, 2015 for an annual program organized by the World Assembly of Youth (WAY):
Children in Danger: Act to End Violence Against Children ABA IHRC
Every five minutes, a child is killed by violence, a new report by UNICEF UK said. A majority of these deaths occur outside of war zones. The report, published this week by the UK branch of the United Nations children’s agency, said that violence kills more than 340 people under the age of 20 every day around the globe. Seventy-five percent of these deaths are reportedly caused by interpersonal violence, rather than war.
Presentation made in River Gee County, Republic of Liberia on the enhancement of Youth Participation in the 2017 Legislative and Presidential Elections.
KEY FOCUS DOCUMENTS:
THE UNITED NATION SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION 2250
AND THE LIBERIA PEACE BUILDING PLAN
Materiāli sagatavoti starptautiskās akcijas Pasaules lielākā mācību stunda ietvaros.
Plašāk: http://worldslargestlesson.globalgoals.org/
Latvijā: www.skolas.unesco.lv
Multidisciplinary Journal Supported by TETFund. The journals would publish papers covering a wide range of subjects in journal science, management science, educational, agricultural, architectural, accounting and finance, business administration, entrepreneurship, business education, all journals
Right-Wing Extremism: Children´s Perspectives, Policy and Practice.pdfCecilia Polizzi
On April 7, 2022 the CRTG Working Group hosted an Expert Briefing on Violent Right-Wing Extremism: Children ́ s Perspectives, Policy and Practice by Mr. Robert Örell, EU Radicalisation Awareness Network. The purpose of this paper is to offer a series of recommendations to policy-makers and practitioners responsible for preventing and countering child radicalization to Right-Wing Extremism (RWE). This guidance is the result of shared insights, lessons learned, practical examples and policy recommendations from the joint meeting between the CRTG Working Group and Mr. Robert Örell.
Protection of Children in context of IHL and Counter TerrorismNilendra Kumar
Women and children need to be fully protected during armed conflict situations. Further, children are not to be recruited or employed in armed conflicts. IHL provisions are specific and clear in this regard. This presentation would highlight the law in this regard.
The Legal Status of Children in Terrorism.pdfCecilia Polizzi
In this report, the CRTG Working Group addresses one of the most critical legal challenges pertaining to #children in #terrorism. How to classify and treat children associated with extremist actors? Are these children victims, perpetrators, or both? We offer guidance to policymakers and justice professionals in legal status determination, applicable frameworks, and intervention measures.
Main discussion outcomes:
- Children recruited and used by terrorist and violent extremist actors shall be considered and treated primarily as victims.
- To consider and treat children primarily as victims does not imply leniency or that the child should be granted immunity for criminal acts. It rather speaks to the applicability of child rights and juvenile justice principles and standards for children in a counter-terrorism context.
- Victim status does not preclude the activation of channels within the criminal justice system, provided that the child is above the Minimum Age of Criminal Accountability.
- Effective counterterrorism and human rights are not to be interpreted as conflicting goals but rather as complementary and mutually reinforcing.
The Legal Status of Children in Terrorism.pdfCecilia Polizzi
OnDecember19,2022,theCRTGWorkingGrouphostedanExpertBriefingonTheLegalStatusofChildreninTerrorism: Philippine Processes and Practices by Ms. Tricia Clare Oco, Executive Director of the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Council, Department of Social Welfare and Development of the Philippines. The purpose of this paper is to offer a series of recommendations to guide the efforts of policymakers and justice professionals in determining the legal status of children as well as the applicable legal frameworks and intervention measures. This guidance is the result of shared insights, lessons learned, practical examples, and policy recommendations from the joint meeting between the CRTG Working Group and Ms. Oco.
Minister Clifton De Coteau speaks on the occasion of the Launch of the Break ...G4TP
The Honourable Clifton De Coteau, Minister of Gender, Youth and Child Development speaks at the launch of the Break the Silence Campaign, on ending Child Sex Abuse
a document manual based on the child's rights and protection.
this manual is useful for setting up child protection policies for any organization, institution, or any other body that engage with child advocacy matters
17th Melaka International Youth Dialogue: Juvenile DeliquencyKebareileng Matlhape
Scope: International
Date: 9th to 13th July 2017
An interactive dialogue on this topic will be of significance to form, educate, increase awareness on the challenges and entitlements of youth towards non-violence, peaceful and secure environment that assures and supports their development fully at the different levels of society that they represent. Therefore, with the above anticipated theme, all participants present, such as: the young people, youth leaders, representatives from public and private sector, media persona, law enforcers and members of various NGOs and CSOs, will gather to call for action and structure experiences on the issue of Juvenile Delinquency and Youth Development. The outcome document will also enhance youth contribution towards the attainment of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs
OBJECTIVES
During the dialogue all participants will gather to address and call for action on the following objectives:
* To promote awareness and analyse problems and inventories of programmes, services, facilities and resources available towards juvenile violence and delinquent behaviours;
* To identify the roles and contribution of different sectors such as: public sector, private sector, NGOs, and others, in solving Juvenile Deliquency and supporting constructive youth development as well as youth leadership;
*To gather and select good practices, challenges, experiences, and lessons learned from the national youth councils towards improving or amending the current policies in order to solve Juvenile Delinquency;
* To distinguish well-defined responsibilities for the qualified agencies, institutions and personnel involved in preventive efforts;
* To form and advance the national, regional and international policies governing the Juvenile Justice;
* To foster networking, collaboration and partnership among youth and all stakeholders in order to address the issue of Juvenile Delinquency;
* To advance the role of youth and actively involve them in the social development and attainment of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Organising committee Contacts: int.relations@way.org.my
This technical paper has been produced by the United Nations Programme on Youth in the Division for Social Policy and Development of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs, and the NGO Restless Development, in the context of the International Year of Youth.
The purpose of this document is to explore cooperation between youth and the private sector. It is part of a series of technical papers aimed both at strengthening youth participation at all levels through cooperation among various stakeholders, as well as at highlighting the role of youth as agents of development. Building on Youth participation in development, which provides guidance to development agencies and policymakers, and the Activities kit, which provides guidance to young people on celebrating the International Year of Youth, this technical paper is a tool geared towards enhancing partnership between youth and the private sector.
1. Dialogue and Mutual Understanding
Fact Sheet: Armed Conflict
zz In armed conflicts, girls and women are disproportionately targeted but boys and men are also sexually
violated
zz For the last two decades, the United Nations has been at the forefront of efforts to protect children and
youth in armed conflict.
zz The Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict coordinates the
UN family efforts.
zz The UN Security Council is actively engaged in efforts to protect children in armed conflicts by placing
the issue on the international peace and security agenda.
zz In early 2010, the signing of an action plan with the Unified Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist resulted
in the discharge of about 2,000 minors.
zz In June 2010, the Security Council released a statement expressing its readiness to impose targeted mea-
sures against persistent violators recruiting, sexually abusing, maiming and killing children and youth in war.
Today, grave violations are taking place against children and youth in over twenty war-affected countries. As pri-
mary victims of armed conflict, young people experience many forms of suffering. They are killed, maimed, or-
phaned, abducted, deprived of education and health care, and left with deep emotional and physical scars. While
girls and women are disproportionately targeted, boys and men are also sexually violated in conflict situations.
Children and youth are uniquely vulnerable to involuntary military recruitment. Hundreds of thousands are associ-
ated with armed forces, including those of non-State actors. Young people’s participation in conflict has serious impli-
cations for their physical and emotional well-being. Further, the changing nature of conflict directly impacts children
as war tactics include their use as suicide bombers, and systematic attacks are waged on schools. Counter-terrorism
strategies can result in collateral damage, including youth casualties.
Children and youth suffer from other consequences of conflict such as poverty, unemployment, low educational
attainment, poor governance and the disintegration of families and communities. Rehabilitation and reintegration
is particularly critical for children and youth formerly associated with armed groups in order to break cycles of
violence and to find a new existence after a life of conflict and distress. Disarmament, demobilization and reintegra-
tion programmes should build on individuals’ strengths, especially their resilience. Children and youth should be
consulted in the process, with specific issues, including the needs of girls, explicitly addressed.
United Nations, Youth and Armed Conflict
Since the 1990 World Summit for Children, the United Nations has increasingly sought to draw international atten-
tion to the plight of children affected by armed conflict. In 1996, an expert appointed by the Secretary-General, Graça
Machel, submitted a report to the General Assembly depicting the terrible reality of children in war. The ground-
breaking report drew global attention and led to the adoption of resolution 51/77 recommending the Secretary-
General to appoint a Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict.
asdf website: social.un.org/youthyear • facebook: www.facebook.com/UNyouth • twitter: twitter.com/UNyouthyear
2. 2
Today, Radhika Coomaraswamy serves as the Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict. In this capacity,
she speaks as a moral voice and an independent advocate to build awareness and give prominence to the rights and
protection of boys and girls affected by armed conflict.
Systematic engagement with Member States is an essential aspect of her work. She uses various frameworks, such as
the General Assembly, the Security Council, regional organizations, bilateral contacts and field visits to garner political
will from the international community to effectively protect war-affected children and youth.
As the issue of children and armed conflict cuts across various UN mandates, the Special Representative works closely
with other UN agencies and programmes to develop and implement the children and armed conflict agenda. UNI-
CEF remains a key operational partner, designing projects that assist in the release, rehabilitation and reintegration of
child soldiers. The UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations has also expanded significantly the incorporation of
children’s issues in their work.
During the International Year of Youth, the Special Representative of the Secretary General will mobilize youth as a
priority to raise awareness of the plight of child soldiers. She will also continue to garner support for its “Zero under
Eighteen” campaign, which aims to achieve universal ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the
Rights of the Child on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict by 2012.
Through advocacy efforts by the Office of the Special Representative and its partners, the Security Council has be-
come systematically engaged in the issue of children and armed conflict, which has been progressively placed on the
international peace and security agenda.
Progress
Collaborative efforts of the international community over the last ten years have resulted in tangible results for the
children and armed conflict agenda, such as increased global awareness of the issue; strengthening of international
norms and standards; and deployment of Child Protection Advisors in UN peacekeeping and political missions.
Victims of war are convincing and powerful advocates for child rights. The Network for Young People Affected by
War, a non-governmental organization comprised of former child soldiers and witnesses of war, is a tremendous asset
for advancing the children and armed conflict agenda. Former child soldiers have presented their stories of detention
and alienation to the Security Council, giving faces and names to the issue.
In 2005, the Security Council adopted resolution 1612, one of the greatest advancements in protecting children. The
resolution formalized the existing monitoring and reporting practice, established a collection mechanism for timely
and reliable information on violations committed against children and led to the systematic listing in the annual re-
port of the Secretary-General to the Security Council of the parties to conflict that recruit or use child soldiers.
In 2009, the Security Council adopted resolution 1882, which expanded the listing criteria to include maiming and
killing children as well as using sexual violence against them. The listing exercise – or “naming and shaming” as it is
commonly referred to – is a powerful measure that has led to signing action plans with various parties to conflict
and the release of child soldiers. For example, in early 2010, the signing of an action plan with the Unified Communist
Party of Nepal-Maoist resulted in the discharge of about 2,000 minors.
Another major breakthrough occurred in June 2010 when the Security Council released a statement expressing its
readiness to impose targeted measures against persistent violators recruiting, sexually abusing, maiming and killing
children in war. These measures include imposing asset freezing, arms embargoes and travel restrictions.
asdf website: social.un.org/youthyear • facebook: www.facebook.com/UNyouth • twitter: twitter.com/UNyouthyear
3. 3
Important precedents are being set in the fight to end impunity for crimes committed against children and youth.
The most prominent developments involve the International Criminal Court trial of Thomas Lubanga Dyilo of the
Democratic Republic of the Congo. The accused is alleged to be the founder and leader of Union des Patriotes Con-
golais and Forces patriotiques pour la libération du Congo. Charges include conscription and enlistment of children
under the age of 15 and the use of children for active participation in hostilities.
The way forward
The following key recommendations, contained in the Machel Study10-Year Strategic Review, serve as future guide-
lines to protect children and youth in situations of war:
Securing universal compliance with international norms and standards — The international community should strive
for universal adherence to international standards that protect children from the adverse effects of war.
End impunity for violations against children — Member States must ensure systematic and timely investigation and
prosecution of crimes against children and youth in the context of armed conflict and provide assistance to victims.
Strengthening the monitoring and reporting mechanism — Member States, United Nations entities and non-govern-
mental organizations must continue to enhance the existing common framework to timely collect information on
violations against children and youth.
Promote justice for children — Member States need to uphold international standards on juvenile justice with deten-
tion used only as a last resort and a guarantee that detained juveniles be separated from detained adults.
Support inclusive reintegration strategies — Stakeholders should ensure that release and reintegration strategies are in
line with the Paris Commitments and Principles. Strategies should ensure long-term sustainability and community-
based approaches, with emphasis on education and employment.
Integrate children’s rights in peacemaking, peacebuilding and preventive actions — All peacemaking and peacebuilding
processes should be child-sensitive, including specific provisions in peace agreements.
Increase the participation of and support for children and youth — The participation of children and youth in the child
rights agenda is one of the key recommendations in the Machel Study 10-Year Strategic Review.
For further information
zz www.un.org/children/conflict
zz www.un.org/children/conflict/machel/english
zz www.zerounder18.com
zz www.facebook.com/zerounder18
zz www.flickr.com/photos/childrenandarmedconflict
This Fact Sheet was prepared by the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Chil-
dren and Armed Conflict and the United Nations Programme on Youth. This is part of a collaborative
effort of the United Nations Inter-Agency Network on Youth Development, coordinated by the UN Pro-
gramme on Youth
asdf website: social.un.org/youthyear • facebook: www.facebook.com/UNyouth • twitter: twitter.com/UNyouthyear