I would like to thank the United Kingdom for organizing this annual Open Debate, as well as the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict Virginia Gamba, and the Deputy Executive Director of UNICEF, for their informative briefings. Italy aligns itself with the statements delivered by the European Union and by the Groups of Friends on CAAC and would like to add the following remarks in its national capacity.
In line with the Convention on the Rights of the Child, children, regardless of their legal status, must have the right to enjoy their childhood in stable and peaceful societies, where they can feel safe to learn and become actors of positive change, peace and sustainable development. In this spirit, we express our deep concern for the increasing number of verified grave violations in the 2022 Secretary General’s Report.
It is particularly disturbing to witness the rising trend of violations carried out by State actors, while States have the primary responsibility to protect, respect, and fulfil children’s rights, both in times of peace and in times of war. In this case, the essence of international law and international humanitarian law is under deliberated attack and the international community must reaffirm its commitment to the respect of international law, human rights and humanitarian principles.
In this framework, Italy recalls the Paris Principles, the Vancouver Principles and calls on all Member States to endorse and fully implement the “Safe Schools Declaration”, to mitigate the consequences of armed conflicts on education, and refrain from the military use of civil infrastructures.
In parallel, we must not disregard those crimes largely under-reported, as sexual violence in conflict and rape used as tactic of war. We encourage the maximum collaboration across the different UN mandates to prevent and end this plague and ensure that the perpetrators be brought to justice.
We reiterate our staunch support for the CAAC mandate, as a unique tool to mainstream child protection in the political agenda of the Council. We welcome the progress registered by of SRSG’s Office and note with concern the challenges highlighted in the regions of the Lake Chad Basin and in Central Sahel, among others. Italy is proud to have supported the UN’s “Guidance Note on Abduction” and stands ready to respond to the Secretary General’s call to address the specific needs of children with disabilities and support the SRSG Office’s ongoing efforts in this direction.
We take note of the listing of the Russian Armed Forces and affiliates following the Russian unprovoked and unjustified war of aggression against Ukraine. We urge all parties to accelerate the implementation of joint action plans through credible and effective measures aimed at protecting children as the utmost priority. Indeed, the CAAC mandate is a key tool to encourage change in the behavior of the parties, without ever underestimating their responsibilities for the actions accomplished and the moral and legal call to end impunity.
In conclusion, we join the concerns expressed by the Secretary General in his Report on the children transferred to the Russian Federation from areas of Ukraine. We encourage all possible efforts aimed at facilitating family tracing and reunification and we call on all parties to the conflict to give child protection actors access to these children to facilitate this process, in line with the actual best interest of every child.
Thank you.
