A/70/162
I. Introduction
1.
In its resolution 69/157, the General Assembly requested the Special
Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict to continue
to submit reports on the activities undertaken in the fulfilment of her mandate,
including information on her field visits, progress made and challenges faced on the
children and armed conflict agenda. The request stemmed from the mandate given by
the Assembly in its resolution 51/77, in which it recommended that the Special
Representative raise awareness and promote the collection of information about the
plight of children affected by armed conflict, and that the Special Representative
foster international cooperation to ensure respect for children ’s rights in such
situations. In line with that mandate, and as requested by the Assembly in its
resolution 69/157, the present report provides an update on the “Children, not
soldiers” campaign. It also highlights progress made over the past year and outlines
the immediate priorities, as well as a longer-term vision, to advance the children and
armed conflict agenda in collaboration with Member States, United Nations entities,
regional and subregional organizations and civil society.
II. Taking stock of the children and armed conflict agenda
A.
Overview of trends and challenges
2.
The reporting period was marked by acute periods of violence that added to
existing challenges from protracted conflicts. Cyclical spikes and unrelenting
violence have resulted in widespread grave violations against children in nearly all
situations on the children and armed conflict agenda. In many situations, conflict s
continued to be characterized by extreme violence and sectarian, religious or ethnic
divisions. In a number of countries, intense armed conflicts took place in dense
urban environments, leading to a significant loss of life among children. Such
conflicts have challenged the response capacity of national authorities and the
international community.
3.
Extreme violence was a prevalent feature of conflicts in 2014 and continued
into 2015. That lead to a dramatic increase in grave violations against children , who
were disproportionately affected and were often the direct targets of acts of violence
intended to cause maximum civilian casualties, terrorize entire communities and
provoke outrage worldwide. Schools in particular were targeted by extremist
groups. In many situations, the regional or international responses to security threats
have also posed child protection challenges.
4.
In the latter part of the reporting period, a number of situations deteriorated
significantly, with those in South Sudan and Yemen worsening to a significant
degree. In South Sudan, an already dire situation, which followed the eruption of
conflict in December 2013, deteriorated even further. In a period of only three weeks
in May 2015, approximately 130 children from Unity State were killed, with reports
indicating that they had been subjected to brutal sexual violence and /or killed based
on their ethnicity or had been recruited and used. In Yemen, heavy aerial
bombardments since the end of March 2015 have dramatically increased t he number
of child casualties in an already highly precarious environment. All parties to the
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