Poland initiates UN debate on children in war zones

Poland this month holds the rotating presidency of the UN Security Council.

Poland’s ambassador to the UN, Joanna Wronecka, said: “The idea was to showcase positive examples from Africa of combating problems such as child soldier recruitment.

“A prime example is the Ivory Coast, where recruitment has been virtually brought to an end,” she added.

Some 357 million children are living in war zones, according to a report released by children’s rights NGO Save the Children in February. The number of minors killed or injured in armed conflict has tripled since 2010, the report said.

“The UN Security Council and the United Nations as a whole are faced with human tragedies on a daily basis,” Wronecka said. “But perhaps the most grave and aberrant atrocities are experienced by innocent children who grow up in war zones,” she added.

Wronecka appealed for greater attention by the international community to the issue.

“Too many children are deprived of the right to a normal childhood, dignity and respect,” she said.

The United Nations Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, Virginia Gamba, has so far signed 29 action plans with parties to conflict to end violations against children. The action plans comprise legal measures, media campaigns and other efforts stemming from UN recommendations.

“Only in 2017 some 10,000 children were identified as being exploited in armed conflict by various groups, including terrorist networks such as Boko Haram,” Wronecka said.

(aba/pk)

Source: IAR