Ambassador Bill Richardson United States Permanent Representative to the United Nations Statement in the Security Council on Children Affected by Armed Conflict June 29, 1998

USUN PRESS RELEASE #115 (98)
June 29, 1998

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Statement by Ambassador Bill Richardson, United States Representative to the United Nations, on Children Affected by Armed Conflict, in the Security Council, June 29, 1998

Mr. President, the United States appreciates the work of the Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, Mr. Olara Otunnu, and his commitment to improve the situation of all children affected by armed conflict. In his briefing for members of the Council on June 11, 1998, he eloquently described the terrible impact of present-day conflicts on children, both in terms of their scale and the enormity of the abominations committed.

In today's world, with the increasing number of civil wars, international standards and principles are being swept aside. Civilian populations are often deliberately targeted, and children suffer disproportionately as their families are killed or displaced. One of the most heinous developments has been the increasing use of young children in armed conflict in violation of international law. These children face real tragedies and human rights abuses. Methods such as forced recruitment and abduction are used to mobilize children as young as twelve to participate in armed conflict, and the subsequent mistreatment they endure and the tactical manner in which they are used are deplorable. Many are wounded in both mind and body. Even if they survive their ordeal, they are often deprived of proper care and assistance both during and after the conflict. All have suffered a severe disruption of their education and preparation for their lives as adults.

As Special Representative Otunnu noted in his briefing to members of the Security Council, it is time to exert pressure to implement the many norms that already exist to prevent further abuse and brutalization of children. We should not let any attention be distracted by debates on the margin of the problem, but focus on where the real abuses are -- with young children whose lives are totally distorted by their recruitment into armed conflict and brutality -- becoming both perpetrators and victims who are often drugged to make them comply.

The United States strenuously condemns this use of children in armed conflict in a manner that violates international law and actively supports international efforts to curb this practice.

The United States also provides support for programs to rehabilitate affected children through counseling, reconciliation, education and vocational training in the hope that these methods will facilitate the reintegration of these children into civilian society, help them to readjust to being children, and prepare them to lead peaceful and constructive lives. We support the work of UNHCR and UNICEF in these areas. Because of the particular vulnerability of refugee and internally displaced children, the United States is working with UNHCR to strengthen its infrastructure and activities in order to better address the special protection and assistance needs of refugee children. The people of the United States support numerous international and non-governmental organizations whose work contributes to alleviate the suffering of children affected by hostilities.

The United States places the highest priority on assisting children throughout the world, and will continue to work with the governments, UN agencies, international and non-governmental organizations and other partners who have specific responsibility and expertise to address the difficult and tragic problem of the exploitation of children as soldiers. Today's children are tomorrow's hope. We must all work to ensure that hope is not extinguished by their participation in armed conflict.

Thank you, Mr. President.