Launch a campaign to improve the protection of children affected by armed conflict

The Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, Ms. Virginia Gamba unveiled a new initiative to generate greater awareness and action to improve the protection of children affected by armed conflict.

This support will include advocacy to reach universal ratification or endorsement of international agreements such as the Optional protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict, the Paris Principles, Safe Schools Declaration and Vancouver Principles.

Over the next three years, the campaign will seek to strengthen collaboration between the United Nations, civil society and the international community to support actions designed to end and prevent grave violations committed against children in times of conflict.

“With more children suffering horrific abuses in war zones across the globe, we desperately need to reinvigorate our efforts to raise awareness about the core of the mandate I represent – the six grave violations, and to redouble our common advocacy to ensure action by parties to conflict to give children the protection they deserve,” said Virginia Gamba.

Over the next three years, the campaign will seek to strengthen collaboration between the United Nations, civil society and the international community to support actions designed to end and prevent grave violations committed against children in times of conflict.

The campaign will also push for full implementation of existing Action Plans signed between the United Nations and parties to conflict, as well as stronger engagement with other listed parties to conflict to generate additional Action Plans and commitments to end violations.