The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) called on the UnitedNations (UN) and international organisations to intensify efforts toprotect children during armed conflict at a UN Security Council’s opendebate in New York on March 25.
Speaking on behalfof the ASEAN, Vietnam’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations,Ambassador Nguyen Phuong Nga, strongly condemned the increasing numberof child abductions and attacks targeting schools and hospitals made bynon-state armed groups.
She emphasised that thevariety of non-state armed groups in their nature, form or motive meansthat different measures of engagement are required to defeat them, andthis should be undertaken within a broader strategy of conflictprevention and response.
That strategy should,amongst others, address root causes of armed conflicts and cover social,economic and development issues during and after armed conflicts, sheadded.
The ambassador affirmed that Vietnam andASEAN countries welcomed the progress in implementing the UN SecurityCouncil’s resolutions on children and armed conflict.
She also applauded member states concerned for the efforts inimplementing their respective Council-mandated action plans, andwelcomed the integration of the protection of children in armedconflicts in their national policies.
“Weappreciate the work done by UN bodies and concerned agencies in armedconflict, particularly in monitoring and reporting on grave violationsagainst children, incorporating child protection policies inpeacekeeping operations, and promoting the implementation ofdisarmament, demobilisation and reintegration programs,” she said.
The diplomat highlighted ASEAN’s own efforts in child protection,including the participation in the Convention on the Rights of the Childand the approval of the ASEAN Declaration on the Elimination ofViolence against Women and Children in ASEAN in 2013.
“To conclude, ASEAN reiterates our continued commitment to workingwith Council members and the international community to protect andpromote the best interests of children affected by armed conflicts,” theAmbassador said.
At the debate, UN SecretaryGeneral Ban Ki-moon said that there are around 230 million childrenliving in countries and areas where armed groups are fighting. Of thefigure, up to 15 million children are affected directly by violence.
He called on the international community to take joint action to protect children from becoming victims of the conflict.-VNA
Speaking on behalfof the ASEAN, Vietnam’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations,Ambassador Nguyen Phuong Nga, strongly condemned the increasing numberof child abductions and attacks targeting schools and hospitals made bynon-state armed groups.
She emphasised that thevariety of non-state armed groups in their nature, form or motive meansthat different measures of engagement are required to defeat them, andthis should be undertaken within a broader strategy of conflictprevention and response.
That strategy should,amongst others, address root causes of armed conflicts and cover social,economic and development issues during and after armed conflicts, sheadded.
The ambassador affirmed that Vietnam andASEAN countries welcomed the progress in implementing the UN SecurityCouncil’s resolutions on children and armed conflict.
She also applauded member states concerned for the efforts inimplementing their respective Council-mandated action plans, andwelcomed the integration of the protection of children in armedconflicts in their national policies.
“Weappreciate the work done by UN bodies and concerned agencies in armedconflict, particularly in monitoring and reporting on grave violationsagainst children, incorporating child protection policies inpeacekeeping operations, and promoting the implementation ofdisarmament, demobilisation and reintegration programs,” she said.
The diplomat highlighted ASEAN’s own efforts in child protection,including the participation in the Convention on the Rights of the Childand the approval of the ASEAN Declaration on the Elimination ofViolence against Women and Children in ASEAN in 2013.
“To conclude, ASEAN reiterates our continued commitment to workingwith Council members and the international community to protect andpromote the best interests of children affected by armed conflicts,” theAmbassador said.
At the debate, UN SecretaryGeneral Ban Ki-moon said that there are around 230 million childrenliving in countries and areas where armed groups are fighting. Of thefigure, up to 15 million children are affected directly by violence.
He called on the international community to take joint action to protect children from becoming victims of the conflict.-VNA
