Photo credit: MONUSCO Deployment of Child Protection Advisers How is UN Peacekeeping protecting children? In their tireless efforts to implement the child protection mandate, UN peacekeepers have – among others - helped release thousands of child soldiers and provided vital technical support to legislative reforms aimed at strengthening national child protection system. The protection of children in conflict has been included in the mandates of UN peacekeeping operations since 2001. The Security Council has addressed this issue since the late ‘90s, requesting the Secretary-General in Resolution 1261 (1999) to ensure that “personnel involved in United Nations peacemaking, peacekeeping and peace-building activities have appropriate training on the protection, rights and welfare of children”. In many conflict-ridden countries, peacekeeping missions are the largest actor on the ground and their contribution is vital to protecting children. They are also increasingly victims of attacks on schools and hospitals. As the primary victims of wars, many girls and boys are subject to killing and maiming, recruitment and use as child soldiers, sexual violence, abduction, and denial of access to humanitarian aid.
Why is child protection at the heart of peacekeeping?Īrmed conflicts disproportionately affect children.
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