VICE-MINISTER GERMANAS STRESSED THE NEED TO FUTHER DEVELOP AGENDA AND INSTRUMENTS OF PROTECTION OF CHILDREN
March 7, New York. “The United Nations has made significant progress over the past decade and a half in protecting children. However, in nearly all recent conflicts we are facing the horrific impact of conflicts on children”, - said Lithuania’s Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Neris Germanas, addressing the United Nations Security Council during the open debate on Children in Armed Conflict.
Lithuania’s representative stressed the need to further develop agenda of protection of children and to sharpen existing instruments. In his statement, Vice-Minister Germanas focused on the attacks on schools, implementation of action plans and the need to combat impunity. The Vice-Minister noted that the growing use of schools for military purposes and increase in attacks on schools severely disrupted children’s right to access to education. He noted that impunity for violence against children, as well as lack of access to education due to fear of attacks must be addressed by the Security Council.
Further, Vice-Minister Germanas stressed the key role of time-bound action plans in ending recruitment and use of children as well as the need for political will and resources to implement them. Finally, Lithuania’s representative emphasized that accountability for the perpetrators of grave violations against children should be further strengthened. “Ending violations does not necessarily mean the end of impunity”, noted Vice-Minister Germanas. He stressed that if national authorities are unwilling or unable to hold perpetrators to account, international justice mechanisms, including the International Criminal Court, can and should play a role. Lithuania’s Vice-Minister noted that violence against children should be included in targeted sanctions designation criteria.
The open debate on Children in Armed conflict was organized by Luxembourg, the President of the UN Security Council for the month of March. The debate was attended by the Secretary General Mr. Ban Ki-moon. Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict Ms. Leila Zerrougi, Executive Director of UNICEF Mr. Athony Lake and Former Child Soldier from Sierra Leone Mr. Alhaji Babah Sawaneh briefed the participants of the debate.
