Statement by the Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs of Brazil Ambassador Fernando Simas Magalhães in the UN High-Level Open Debate on Children and Armed Conflict - 19 July 2022

Statement by the Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs of Brazil

Ambassador Fernando Simas Magalhães

 in the UN High-Level Open Debate on Children and Armed Conflict

July 19th, 2022

I shall now make a statement in my national capacity.

First, let me thank the Secretary-General for his latest annual report on children and armed conflict. I also commend the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Ms. Virginia Gamba, for her commitment and continued efforts in engaging with parties in conflict-affected countries to protect children. I would also like to thank the Executive Director of UNICEF, Ms. Catherine Russell, for her tireless and dedicated work. Furthermore, I thank Mr. Patrick Kumi for his moving and inspirational testimony.

In the past 25 years, the UN has made valuable progress in protecting children from the scourge of war. This year's report alone shows that over 12 thousand children were released from armed groups and armed forces in 2021. Despite our efforts to date, there is still a long road ahead of us. Children remain subject to the six grave violations as a result of the failure of parties in armed conflict to comply with international humanitarian law, international human rights law, and international refugee law.

Some of those children have been disproportionately vulnerable, such as refugee, internally displaced and stateless children. Displacement poses additional risks for children`s safety, including vulnerability to trafficking and exploitation, especially for those children who are unaccompanied or have been separated from their parents or caregivers. Displaced children also face barriers to access basic services, such as education and health care. This situation imposes serious limitations on the development of children and increases the risk of additional grave violations.

Neighboring, transit and host countries must ensure that children arriving in their territories are immediately identified and have full access to all public services and social benefits, regardless of their migration status. Such services should include access to education, in accordance with last year's Security Council resolution 2601. Brazil has been providing access to education and health, among other services and benefits, for children fleeing countries such as Afghanistan, Haiti, Syria, and Venezuela. Children always deserve our support, regardless of race, ethnicity, nationality, migration or any other status.

A concerning trend shown in this year's report is the increase in abduction by over 20% compared to 2020, one of the fastest-growing grave violations. Boys and girls are both at risk of abduction. Boys who suffer abduction are also usually subject to recruitment. Abducted girls are likely to suffer violations such as sexual violence, forced marriage and exploitation. Boys and girls often require different types of support before, during and after conflict.

Prevention efforts and the protection of children against grave violations should be a priority for the international community, and so should reintegration, which is essential to help children rebuild their lives. When released, they often face exclusion, stigma and lack of opportunities. A world that abandons its children has no future; it inspires neither faith nor hope. Reintegration must be seen as a third pillar of the children and armed conflict agenda, complementing the efforts of prevention and protection. Reintegration must be understood as a long-term process that requires long-term commitment. It should also be seen as a tool for peacebuilding and sustaining peace.

We encourage the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General to engage with parties in conflict with a view to establishing specific Action Plans on Reintegration, in which relevant communities, partners and donors could be linked into a single solidarity network. In doing so, we also encourage the Office of the SRSG and the Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict to make full use of the expertise of the Peacebuilding Commission, which is uniquely positioned to bridge cross-pillar discussions.

I also want to share a few words on four key points for the effective implementation of the children and armed conflict agenda. First, accountability is essential in ending grave violations. Brazil coincides with the call in the Secretary-General's report for Member States to adopt national accountability measures and to cooperate with relevant international accountability mechanisms.

Second, any counterterrorism action must abide by international law. If counterterrorism takes place at the expense of our children, it will have defeated its purpose. Children should always be treated primarily as victims, including those associated with groups designated as terrorists, and they should only be detained as a measure of last resort and for the shortest appropriate time.

Third, this Council should ensure that sanctions do not have adverse humanitarian consequences for civilian populations, including children, nor adversely affect activities carried out by humanitarian organizations. We encourage it to continue improving humanitarian carve-outs in sanction regimes and to consider the inclusion of child rights experts in the monitoring mechanisms of sanctions committees, including panels of experts.

Fourth, Brazil coincides with the Secretary-General's report on the importance of ensuring that child protection provisions and capacity are included in all relevant mandates of UN peacekeeping operations and special political missions. 

In conclusion, it is Brazil`s belief that children can continue to bring the Members of this Organization together. While recognizing that the Council is divided on a range of issues, protecting children from war should be one common denominator for us. As stated in the Graça Machel Report, "in a world of diversity and disparity, children are a unifying force capable of bringing people to common ethical grounds".

I now resume my functions as President of the Council.