The Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, Virginia Gamba, affirmed the United Nations’ pledge to end and prevent grave violations against children in armed conflict in the Arab world.
Gamba added, in statements reported by childrenandarmedconflict website, that new and emerging crises, as well as protracted armed conflicts in countries in the region such as Libya, Syria, Sudan, Somalia, Yemen and Palestine, have forced millions of children to flee their homes; which made them more vulnerable to recruitment, use by armed groups, killing, maiming or sexual violence.
“The current vulnerability of children to violations of their rights in recent years has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, making their effective protection from the harms of war an increasingly elusive goal.” She added.
Gamba stressed that protecting children before, during and after conflict; require stronger preventive steps, including mediation efforts and peace negotiations; to ensure that all children have access to a peaceful future, in accordance with the promises of the Sustainable Development Goals.
