Viet Nam urges collaboration to ensure safe future for children worldwide
VGP - The United Nations Security Council held an annual open debate on children and armed conflict, chaired South Korea as June’s Council president, on June 27.
Children next to the ruins of a school hit by an Israeli air strike in Gaza on June 25. Photo:VNA
Participants to session include former United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and representatives of more than 80 countries and related international organizations.
At the session, delegates expressed concerns about the tendency of a significant increase in violations against children in conflict areas, resulting in many children being killed, injured or separated.
They also discussed current issues about child recruitment and use, killing and maiming, abductions, rape and other forms of sexual violence, attacks on schools and hospitals, and the denial of humanitarian access.
Many countries condemned the acts of killing children in conflicts and attacks on educational and health facilities that are taking place in many parts of the world.
Minister Counsellor Nguyen Hoang Nguyen, deputy head of the Permanent Delegation of Viet Nam to the UN, emphasized that the top priority of the international community and each country is to address the root cause of conflicts via promoting sustainable development, helping children avoid the consequences of war and violence.
He affirmed that respect for the UN Charter, international law and international humanitarian law plays a significant role in children protection.
All parties in conflicts must comply with their obligations under international law and relevant UN resolutions, including the Security Council Resolution 2573 (2021) which was proposed by Viet Nam on the protection of civilians in armed conflicts.
The representative of Viet Nam held that to increase the effectiveness of children protection in conflicts, it is necessary to strengthen collaboration among member countries and related agencies of the UN such as the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), UN Development Program (UNDP), and UN peacekeeping missions, among others.
The comprehensive approach will help to create a framework to connect peacekeeping missions, economic development with child protection prior, in and post conflicts.
On this occasion, Viet Nam affirmed that the country will closely collaborate with the international community, the United Nations (UN) and related parties in preventing and solving conflicts, contributing to ensuring a safe and bright future for children worldwide./.
