Safwan* is a two-year-old boy living in in Hudaydah governorate. He represents millions of children in Yemen who are at high risk of malnutrition.
In recent years there has been a dramatic increase in incidents of humanitarian access being denied to children in Yemen. These violations include restrictions on movement both into and within the country, interference with humanitarian assistance, and violence against humanitarian personnel, assets and facilities.
What’s the Children and Armed Conflict report?
At a time when the norms and standards that put children off-limits in war are themselves under sustained attack, the Children and Armed Conflict agenda at the UN offers an important tool for holding perpetrators to account and protecting children.
Every year, as part of his annual report on children affected by armed conflict, the UN Secretary-General publishes a list of warring parties that have committed grave violations against children. This has become known as the ‘list of shame’.
By identifying and exposing perpetrators, it provides a key first step towards accountability. It incentivises listed parties to change their behaviour by ‘naming and shaming’ them in the eyes of the world.
And it can secure real, tangible change – to be removed from the list, warring parties must agree and implement action plans to protect children. In Nigeria, since the Government’s Civilian Joint Task Force signed an action plan to end its recruitment and use of children in 2017, no new cases of child recruitment or use by the group have been verified, and more than 2,200 children have been separated from its ranks.
However, in recent years, the listing process has become increasingly politicised. Some powerful nations have used their influence to avoid being listed, despite clear evidence of grave violations. For example, last year the Secretary-General removed Saudi Arabia from the list even though the UN’s own findings concluded that the Saudi-led coalition had killed and maimed 222 children in Yemen in 2019.
This undermines the credibility of the report and, therefore, efforts to protect children in armed conflict.
What’s the role of the UK?
The UK has a seat at the most powerful tables in the world, including the UN Security Council. This means it has both the power, and the responsibility, to make a difference for children affected by conflict.
The UK can help ensure the ‘list of shame’ is fit for purpose by taking a strong stand in support of the Secretary-General’s independence and an evidence-based approach. As one of the largest funders of the Office of the UN Special Representative on Children and Armed Conflict, it’s particularly important for the UK to be a strong voice on this – and of course, to maintain that funding commitment.
The UK also holds the presidency of the G7, which means it can bring the world’s most powerful democracies together to call out grave violations against children and agree concrete steps to hold perpetrators to account.
And as it develops the new conflict centre and approach announced in its Integrated Review of foreign policy, the UK Government can – and must - ensure the Children and Armed Conflict agenda is afforded much greater priority.
Now more than ever, children affected by conflict need a champion. There’s no better way for the UK Government to live up to its commitment to be a ‘force for good’ in the world than to be that champion.
Related links:
Killed and Maimed: A generation of violence against children
What We Do: Child Protection
What We Do: Children's Rights
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