Translated with AI
"My place is not in armed conflict." These words from a child in the Democratic Republic of the Congo are addressed to world leaders. They were quoted in a New Year's message by the UN Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, Vanessa Fraser, according to the UN press service.
She said that in 2025, children in conflict zones including the DRC, Gaza, Haiti, Myanmar, Nigeria, Somalia, Sudan and Ukraine would be victims of horrific violations documented by the United Nations.
Moreover, 2024 has already been recognized as the most difficult year in the nearly 30 years of the UN mandate on children and armed conflict, with the highest number of serious violations of children's rights recorded. "We cannot allow these horrific figures to become the new normal," Fraser emphasized.
Listen and act She called for decisive action to improve the situation of children in crisis zones by 2026.
Ahead of the 30th anniversary of the UN mandate on children and armed conflict, the Special Representative has issued a call to world leaders: "Listen and act."
"Hear their stories, listen to their voices – their words are powerful and should help us shape the future they want," she said.
On behalf of "all the children whose voices have been silenced by violence, whose stories have been erased by bombs," Fraser called on leaders to take responsibility and do the right thing. Protecting children in conflict, she emphasized, is not simply a moral or political choice, but a requirement of international law, and violations of children's rights can constitute war crimes.
Financial support for child protection efforts The Special Representative called on States to maintain and strengthen funding for child protection programs, as monitoring, reporting, response, and justice directly depend on this support. She emphasized the importance of investing in peacebuilding, conflict prevention, and long-term recovery.
Fraser also called on all parties to conflicts to respect international humanitarian law, end violations, and hold those responsible accountable. She stated that the promises made to children in the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Optional Protocol on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict must be fulfilled, including every child's right to life, development, and the right to be heard—the right to childhood.
In closing, Vanessa Fraser quoted another child as saying to world leaders: “A safe child means a safe future.”
"Children have rights. Children want peace," she concluded.
