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Mr President
I thank you for initiating this important debate on children in armed conflict.
New Zealand also thanks the Secretary-General for his report on children and armed conflict. New Zealand agrees with its recommendation that the Security Council should not limit its attention to child soldiers, but should instead give equal weight to all categories of grave violations against children: the killing or maiming of children, recruiting and using child soldiers, attacks against schools and hospitals, rape and other grave sexual violence against children, abduction of children and denial of humanitarian access to children.
We were proud to co-sponsor Security Council resolution 1820 adopted on 19 June and welcome the recognition that children in armed conflict are acutely vulnerable to sexual violence. We look forward to the Secretary-General’s next report, as requested in resolution 1820, and call for action to be taken as soon as possible to cease abuses against children.
Mr President
We commend the progress made by the Working Group on children and armed conflict, with France as its chair. We want to see it continue to publish conclusions that lead to strong and swift action against the perpetrators of the grave violations against children. The Working Group is a vital component of a series of mechanisms for ensuring that children affected by conflict are protected.
We recognise the dedication of Special Representative for children and armed conflict, Radhika Coomaraswamy, to the commitments in her mandate and, in particular, the findings from her recent field visits.
We acknowledge that today is the tenth anniversary of the creation of the International Criminal Court by adoption of the Rome Statute and take the opportunity to reiterate the central importance of the ICC in bringing to justice the perpetrators of abuse against children.
Mr President
New Zealand commends those involved, those countries where progress has been reported, and especially the Security Council for the ongoing efforts to better ensure the safety of children affected by conflict. We call on the Council to continue its work to fulfil the mandate set out in resolution 1612 adopted in 2005 which we believe continues to provide sound foundations for the valuable work of the Special Representative.
Thank you Mr President
