Der er behov for at beskytte børn og børnesoldater, som misbruges og mishandles i væbnede konflikter. Derfor var Danmark tirsdag i New York vært for lanceringen af det internationale Red Barnets rapport om beskyttelse af børn i krig og nød – ”Child Protection in emergencies”.
Gennem rapporten deler Red Barnet ud af deres store viden på området samt giver konkrete anbefalinger til, hvad der kan gøres for at hjælpe børn i nødsituationer.
I den forbindelse udtaler udenrigsminister Per Stig Møller (K):
– Børn er alt for ofte de første ofre for væbnede konflikter eller naturkatastrofer. Respekten for børns rettigheder og beskyttelsen af børn har altid været et centralt aspekt i Danmarks udenrigs- og udviklingspolitik. Derfor støtter vi gerne, når internationale NGOer søger at fokusere verdenssamfundets opmærksomhed på børns vilkår.
– Danmark håber, at konklusionerne fra mødet kan yde et væsentligt bidrag til Sikkerhedsrådets forhandlinger om beskyttelse af børn i væbnede konflikter. Vi skal yde børn den hjælp, de har krav på.
Indlægget af den danske FN-ambassadør, Ellen Margrethe Løj, under Sikkerhedsrådets tematisk debat om børn i væbnede konflikter den 23. februar 2005 kan læses her.
We all know that the issue of children and armed conflict is one of great complexity. A solution to the problem can only be reached by taking a comprehensive approach including legal, political as well as socio-economic measures.
We need to address the demand-side of the equation (problemstillingen) by taking action against governments and other entities that either recruit or force children to become armed combatants. But we also need to be cognizant of (bekendt med) the supply side particular the close inter-linkage between security and development.
Children affected by armed conflict must be provided with real alternatives to the harsh reality of war. It is consequently of key importance that all DDR-processes address the special needs of child soldiers.
A long-term solution depends on the creation of incentives and possibilities for child soldiers including the possibility to get vocational training, education and in the end real jobs.
The report of the Secretary-General is indeed sobering (tankevækkende) reading.
As we speak, thousands of children in places like the DR Congo, in Darfur, Northern Uganda and in Sri Lanka are being forcefully recruited to participate in the killings of innocent people or are being killed themselves.
Children are being raped or exposed to other kinds of grave sexual violence. Places where our children should feel safe such as schools and hospitals have become the targets of deliberate armed attacks and unspeakable atrocities.
It is clear that in the absence of direct and firm national and international involvement in the solution of this multifaceted problem anarchy, brutality and impunity (straffrihed) will continue to reign.
What immediate actions can the Council take to address the present deplorable situation regarding children in armed conflict? I would like to point to three areas.
FIRSTLY, as repeatedly reported by the Secretary-General to the Council, the situation for children in armed conflict around the world is not improving. On the contrary – impunity is widespread.
Parties to a number of armed conflicts show no will to respect their international obligations neither with regard to the norms of relevant legal instruments, nor to the decisions and repeated demands of the Security Council.
However, the credibility of the Security Council rests on its ability to follow up on its previous decisions and effectively address the widespread impact of armed conflicts on children. For these reasons, we believe that time has now come for the Security Council to take action.
In this respect we note the recommendation of the Secretary-General that the Security Council should move to take targeted and concrete measures where insufficient or no progress has been made by parties named in the lists annexed to the Secretary Generals report.
What the exact nature of these measures should be and how they could most effectively be implemented are some of the issues which we look forward to discussing in more detail during the forthcoming deliberations of the Security Council on the resolution to follow this debate.
SECONDLY, as we move to consider targeted measures against the worst offenders, we must also ensure that we continue to receive systematic, reliable and accurate information on the situation on the ground.
In this regard we find it of key importance that the Security Council endorses a mechanism to monitor and report on the use of child soldiers and on other violations committed against children affected by armed conflict.
The Council has repeatedly called for the establishment of a monitoring mechanism within the UN-system and the Secretary-General has in his report accordingly provided the Council with an action plan for the setting-up of this urgently needed mechanism. Denmark will work to ensure that the final result is one that will be effective.
Parallel to the action plan we must also make sure that the Security Councils earlier decisions on this issue are effectively implemented. More needs to be done in this field including:
– the designation of specific focal points in situations of armed conflict
– enhanced dialogue with governments and armed groups using child soldiers, and
– the development of concrete action plans on the national level to halt recruitment and use of child soldiers
FINALLY, I would like to point out that while striving to find ways to effectively address the atrocities committed against children by parties to armed conflicts, we must not loose sight of the shortcomings of the international communitys own efforts to protect children in war-torn societies.
A particular grim experience in this regard is the serious allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse of women and children that has been made against UN peacekeeping personnel.
Such abuse is a complete betrayal of the trust which the victims of war must always be able to place on those who come to protect them and support the peace building process.
Firm measures and a policy of zero tolerance are needed to prevent and put an end to all sexual exploitation and abuse by UN-peacekeeping personnel.
Those who have perpetrated such conduct must face disciplinary and criminal prosecution. Denmark is confident that the Secretary-General will continue to take the appropriate steps needed to address the problem.
Much more could be said, but let me conclude by reiterating that the time has come for the Security Council to act. A monitoring- and reporting mechanism should be endorsed and the Council should move to take targeted and concrete measures according to the recommendations of the Secretary-
General.
Its time for the Security Council to take action to reverse the deplorable situation of an increasing number of children worldwide trapped in the midst of armed conflict, Ellen Margrethe Løj concluded.
Kilde: www.um.dk
