The United Arab Emirates (UAE) called for action to prevent the recruitment of children in armed conflicts. During the annual open debate on children and armed conflict at the United Nations Security Council, the UAE highlighted the unacceptable reality that 8,630 children are either killed or maimed each year.
The council was urged to redouble efforts to prevent and resolve conflicts, as well as to change behavior and prevent future violations. The UAE stressed the need to combat the indoctrination and recruitment of children by armed groups through education and to ensure the full implementation of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict’s work in partnership with governments and stakeholders.
The UAE emphasized that “no child should be put on the front line” and that children must be a priority in efforts to achieve sustainable peace, as they can be agents of change. The council was urged to shift strategies to reflect the reality and nature of today’s armed conflicts, particularly with non-state armed groups responsible for 50% of serious violations.
Punishment alone is not the ultimate goal, but rather changing behavior and preventing future violations. The UAE called for full use of the council’s capabilities to fulfill its responsibilities towards children.
The escalating cycle of violence that occurs when children are violated by being recruited into armed groups was a major concern for the UAE, which stressed the need to ensure equal access to quality education that promotes peace, tolerance, and mutual understanding, as well as the reconstruction of educational facilities through international cooperation and assistance. The UAE warned that failure to do so risks creating generations of children vulnerable to extremism.
The UAE concluded with a quote from Ishmael Beah’s book about his experience as a child soldier in Sierra Leone, “My squad was my family, my gun was my provider and protector, and my rule was to kill or be killed.” It emphasized that “this is not the childhood we wish for anyone.” The UAE’s call to action reflects its commitment to protecting children and promoting peace, and its efforts to prevent the recruitment of children into armed conflicts.
