At a UN Security Council briefing on Children and Armed Conflict (CAAC), U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield delivered called for an immediate and concerted global action to protect children affected by armed conflict.
Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield began by expressing gratitude to the session’s organizers and contributors, including Special Representative Virginia Gamba, UNICEF’s Omar Abdi, and former Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
She also commended a young survivor who shared his personal story, highlighting the need for continued advocacy from youth. Reflecting on former Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s remarks from fifteen years ago, she underscored that the recruitment and use of children in warfare is not only a violation of international law but also an affront to human decency. Despite ongoing efforts, the CAAC agenda remains a critical and unresolved issue.
The 2023 annual CAAC report presented a grim reality: a 21% increase in instances of grave violations against children. Thousands of young lives have been marred by sexual violence, abduction, forced conscription, and attacks on essential infrastructure like schools and hospitals. The situation in Sudan was highlighted as particularly dire, with boys being recruited as soldiers and girls sold into sexual slavery amidst the ongoing conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
Turning to Ukraine, Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield condemned the abduction, detention, and torture of children by Russian forces amid their invasion. She also addressed the plight of children in Haiti, Myanmar, and Gaza, where ongoing violence and instability have led to severe humanitarian crises. In Gaza, the Ambassador pointed to the devastating impact of the conflict initiated by Hamas on October 7th, emphasizing the urgent need for a ceasefire consistent with UN Resolution 2735. She criticized Hamas for using children as shields and stressed that while Israel must protect civilians, Hamas holds significant responsibility for the current suffering.
Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield lauded the successful efforts of the SRSG’s engagement with conflict parties, which resulted in the release of over 10,000 children from armed groups.
The United States, as the largest donor to UNICEF, continues to support reintegration programs for affected children in various countries, including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, and Iraq.
However, the Ambassador stressed that more must be done. She called for robust psychosocial support for children and their caregivers, addressing the specific risks faced by girls, and ensuring access to medical, nutritional, and hygienic support as foundations for education and mental health.
Concluding her remarks, Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield echoed Ban Ki-moon’s 2009 call to action, urging the international community to work together without delay to ensure all children can live safely, free from the horrors of war.
