Statement by the Deputy Permanent Representative of Brazil to the United Nations, Ambassador João Genésio de Almeida Filho, during the Open Debate on Children and Armed Conflicts - July 5th, 2023
Madam President,
Let me start by congratulating the United Arab Emirates for a very successful presidency of the Council during the month of June. I also wish the UK presidency all the best during the month of July.
Madam President,
I thank you for convening this annual debate, which provides us with unique opportunity to discuss such an important file. Brazil is deeply committed with the CAAC agenda, and we have hosted a signature event on children and armed conflicts during our last presidency of the Council.
I thank the Secretary-General for his latest annual report, and the Special Representative, Ms. Virginia Gamba, for her tireless efforts to protect children.
Brazil fully supports the work of the Special Representative, and we encourage her to continue engaging with all parties to conflicts, including through field visits and action plans. This engagement is essential to prevent and end violations, especially when there is no direct cooperation between parties involved in armed conflicts.
Brazil welcomes the positive results of these efforts, with the reintegration support for over 12 thousand children formerly associated with armed forces or groups in 2022.
I also thank the Mr. Omar Abdi, Deputy Executive Director of UNICEF, for his dedicated work and for his presentation. Y Violeta, muchas gracias por el testigo e las recomendacones que nos presentó.
Ms. Catherine Russell, [civil society speaker TBC] for his/her inspirational testimony.
Madam President,
Children do not initiate wars. But when the Security Council fails in maintaining international peace, and when member states fail to settle their disputes by peaceful means, children are killed, maimed, raped.
The ultimate guarantee of children’s security is peace. When considering each of the situations covered by the report, this Council should have clear that humanitarian action alone will not end children’s suffering. Only peace may avoid child recruitment, abductions, attacks on schools and hospitals, and other grave violations.
The best approach to protect children is promoting dialogue, instead of isolation; financing ceasefires, instead of wars; engaging in peaceful settlement of disputes, instead of coercive unilateral sanctions.
The most effective way to protect children from the inevitable suffering caused by war is to prevent it in the first place, and to favor immediate cessation of hostilities and the opening of peace negotiations when peace is broken.
Madam President,
Brazil reiterates its principled position: multilateral sanctions may not have adverse consequences for children. The Security Council should continue improving humanitarian carve-outs in sanction regimes, and should include child rights experts in the monitoring mechanisms of sanctions committees, including panels of experts.
Child protection provisions should be included in all relevant mandates of UN peacekeeping operations and special political missions. We should always treat children primarily as victims, including those associated with groups designated as terrorists.
Brazil strongly supports reintegration efforts, education for peace, and justice for victims. We also encourage the Office of the Special Representative and the Working Group on CAAC to make use of the expertise of the Peacebuilding Commission.
Madam President,
A world that abandons its children has no future. It inspires neither confidence nor hope. The primary responsibility of this Council for the maintenance of international peace and security is also a responsibility with the children we may avoid being included in future reports. Let us not fail them.
And I thank you.