On this International Day against the Use of Child Soldiers, let us remind ourselves that over 473 million children live in conflict zones, from Myanmar to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Haiti to Sudan, Ukraine to the Sahel region. Children are the primary victims of armed conflicts they did not start. If they survive, they are left with deep physical and psychological scars while having missed out on months or years of education, jeopardising their future opportunities.
In 2023 alone, the United Nations verified the recruitment and use of 8,655 children by parties to conflict with the highest numbers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Myanmar, Syria, Mali, and Nigeria. While boys are disproportionately affected, girls are equally at risk, often forced into marriage or sexual exploitation. Children with disabilities face additional dangers, requiring inclusive protection measures.
The European Union and the United Nations reaffirm their unwavering commitment to protecting conflict-affected children and ending their recruitment and use by armed forces and armed groups worldwide. We also remain steadfast in addressing the drivers of child recruitment and use. We call on all parties to conflict to uphold international law, to unconditionally release children from their ranks and to ensure that they are primarily treated as victims and not detained for their association with parties to conflict. Universal ratification and implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and its Optional Protocol on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict are essential to ending and preventing this violation.
We urge the international community to prioritise sustainable reintegration efforts and ensure accountability for those who exploit or abuse children. Beyond immediate humanitarian needs, these children require long term assistance, including healthcare, mental health and psychosocial support, education, and economic opportunities. Comprehensive, gender-sensitive, and age-appropriate response systems are essential and must address stigma and community rejection. Without adequate support, children remain vulnerable to re-recruitment and use, perpetuating cycles of violence.
At a time when multilateralism is under strain, strong partnerships such as between the EU and the UN, matter more than ever. To advance their common objective of protecting conflict-affected children, the updated European Union Guidelines on Children and Armed Conflict, along with its Checklist for the Integration of the Protection of Children Affected by Armed Conflict into the Common Security and Defence Policy Missions and Operations, provide an important framework for collective action. Protecting children is a moral and legal imperative—and a strategic investment in peace. Ensuring their voices are heard is central to this effort.
LINK: EU Guidelines on Children and Armed Conflict
LINK: childrenandarmedconflict.un.org
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For more information:
Ariane Lignier, Communications Officer, Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict: ariane.lignier@un.org
Fabienne Vinet, Political Affairs Officer, Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict: vinet@un.org