A/HRC/31/19 United Nations General Assembly Distr.: General 28 December 2015 Original: English Human Rights Council Thirty-first session Agenda item 3 Promotion and protection of all human rights, civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development Annual report of the Special Representative of the SecretaryGeneral for Children and Armed Conflict Note by the Secretariat The Secretariat has the honour to transmit to the Human Rights Council the report of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, Leila Zerrougui. In the report, which covers the period from December 2014 to December 2015, the Special Representative outlines the activities undertaken in discharging her mandate and the progress achieved in addressing grave violations against children, including through engagement with parties to conflict to end and prevent violations. The Special Representative also explores the challenges in strengthening the protection of children affected by armed conflict, including by addressing the impact of extreme violence, the deprivation of liberty of children in situations of conflict and the displacement of children as a result of armed conflict. The Special Representative highlights the progress made in the “Children, Not Soldiers” campaign to end and prevent the recruitment and use of children by national security forces, and outlines key elements for the way forward. In addition, she notes the developments regarding accountability for grave violations against children. Lastly, the Special Representative sets out recommendations addressed to the Human Rights Council and Member States to further the protection of children’s rights. GE.15-22960(E) *1522960*

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