Children and armed conflict - Security Council, 10247th meeting

The 10,247th meeting of the Security Council is called to order. The provisional agenda for this meeting is: Children and armed conflict.

The agenda is adopted.

In accordance with Rule 37 of the Council's Provisional Rules of Procedure, I invite the representatives.

Of Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Djibouti, Ecuador, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, Georgia, Germany, Guatemala, Guyana, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, the Maldives, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Montenegro, Morocco, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Oman, Peru, the Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, the Republic of Korea, the Republic of Moldova, Romania, Rwanda, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tunisia, Ukraine, the United Arab Emirates, the United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, and Yemen to participate in this meeting.

It is so decided. The Security Council will now begin its consideration of item 2 of the agenda.

Members of the Council have before them document S/2026/815, the text of a draft resolution submitted by Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Ecuador, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Guyana, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya.

Kuwait, Latvia, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, the Maldives, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Montenegro, Morocco, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Oman, Panama, Peru, the Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, the Republic of Korea, the Republic of Moldova, Romania, Rwanda, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tunisia, Ukraine, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, and Yemen. The Council is ready to proceed to the vote on the draft resolution before it. I now give the floor to those members of the Council who wish to make statements before the vote. I shall now make a statement in my capacity as the representative of Greece. I have the honor to introduce draft resolution S/2026/815 on children and armed conflict, which highlights the impact of digital technologies on violations and abuses against children in armed conflict and the role of technology in preventing violations and abuses. I would like to thank all Security Council members for their constructive engagement in the lengthy negotiation process, and extend our gratitude to our co-sponsors for their valuable support. We also thank the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary General for Children and Armed Conflict, UNICEF, UNESCO, and civil society partners for their cooperation and support in this process. For 30 years, the CAC mandate has identified and addressed grave violations against children, contributing substantially to their protection. It has evolved as conflict itself has evolved. When the Council established the monitoring and reporting mechanism in Resolution 1612 of 2005, when it added killing and maiming and sexual violence as listing triggers in Resolution 1882 of 2009, Attacks on schools and hospitals in Resolution 1998 of 2011 and abduction in Resolution 2225 of 2015, some cautioned that it was premature, that the mandate would be stretched too thin. The opposite proved true. Each time this Council aligned the mandate with the realities of the ground, the mandate became stronger, more credible, and more effective. Some ask whether this is the right moment. Dear colleagues, children are being recruited through social media and messaging platforms today. They are exploited, coerced, and radicalized online today. The question before us is not whether the Council should address the digital dimension of grave violations, but whether it can afford to remain silent while others exploit it. This draft resolution reinforces the existing framework by ensuring that it captures violations regardless of the means by which they are committed. Recruitment through a smartphone is still recruitment. A mandate that cannot see where violations begin is a mandate that falls behind. Today, the defining shift in conflict is digital. This constitutes a significant qualitative shift. Parties to conflict adapt their methods. If we do not adapt ours, the gap between existing frameworks and emerging threats widens. exposing children to increased vulnerability to grave violations. Greece attaches particular importance to protecting children in the digital environment, while enabling them to benefit also from new technologies. The proposed resolution encourages Member States to Adopt measures to reduce the risk posed by digital technologies. Prevent the use of children in malicious activities in the digital sphere. Equip teachers and educators with the competencies required to leverage technology in education. Enable national and regional research initiatives on the use of digital technologies in armed conflict. and foster partnerships between public and private sector to counter the impact of digital technologies on the protection of children. Our draft resolution seeks to enhance the protection of children by mitigating harms stemming from this digital environment and not to regulate the technical aspects of digital content. The same applies for the recommendations of our resolution regarding the beneficial use of digital technologies in education. On a similar note, language pertaining to information integrity used in the resolution and in the context of protecting children in conflict is not meant to erode, infringe upon, or conflict with freedom of expression or speech. but to draw attention to countering any violence fueled by such content. For Greece, the protection of children in armed conflict has never been a passing commitment. It defined our engagement before we joined the Council. It has guided us throughout our term, and it will continue to guide us long after. This resolution does not close the chapter on this urgent issue. It opens it. It is a seed, one that must grow as digital technologies reshape every aspect of human life, and above all, the lives of children. 30 years ago, the international community resolved that children caught in war would no longer be invisible. Today, we must make sure they do not vanish in the digital space. I thank you. I resume my function as President of the Council. I shall put the draft resolution to the vote now. Will those in favour of the draft resolution contained in document S/2026/815 please raise their hand? The result of the voting is as follows: The draft resolution received 15 votes in favour. The draft resolution has been adopted unanimously as resolution 28/32 of 2026. I now give the floor to those members of the Council who wish to make statements after the vote. I give the floor to the representative of the Russian Federation.

Madam President, the Russian Federation reaffirms its commitment to improving the situation of children affected by armed conflict. Digital technologies can indeed create additional threats to minors. An effective tool for addressing such threats is the Convention on Strengthening International Cooperation in Combating Certain Crimes Committed by Means of Information and Communication Systems and in Sharing Electronic Evidence Related to Serious Crimes, which was adopted at the initiative of our country. And we believe that it is important that this instrument is acknowledged in the resolution. It is important to recall that discussions on all aspects of the use of ICTs are already taking place in the relevant forum of the General Assembly. This includes the global mechanism on developments in the field of ICTs in the context of international security and the promotion of responsible state behavior in the use of ICTs, as well as in the ad hoc committee on cybercrime. As for the Security Council's mandate on children and armed conflict, mandate remains unchanged. Work on the Greek draft has shown that developments in digital technologies have not resulted in the emergence of new categories of grave violations. The Council will continue to address the six grave violations that already fall within its mandate. Technological progress has has modernized the methods by which some of these violations are committed. However, the resolution adopted today does not establish a separate category of violations and does not address verification issues. Among the stated objectives of the document was also considering the potential of technology to improve the situation of children in conflict, including by creating opportunities for remote learning. Given this, we do not quite understand why at the final stages of negotiations, references were removed to the military use of schools. This is one of the major reasons why in-person education becomes inaccessible. We will proceed from the understanding that this important element of international humanitarian law will continue to apply irrespective of the resolution and will remain part of the Council's consideration of specific situations. Madam President, the resolution adopted today contains requests for the compilation of best practices related to the issue under consideration. We trust that this work will be carried out by the Special Representative on Children and Conflict in accordance with his mandate and without the involvement of external actors. At the same time, we also trust that efforts in this area will encourage the international community to pay close attention to such phenomena as the online publication of children's personal data by parties to a conflict, and the persecution of children for publicly expressing their views and calling for peace. More specifically, Russia has repeatedly in this Council raised the issue of the notorious Ukrainian website Miratvorets, which translates as "peacekeeper" and which calls for violence against the individuals listed on it. Even children born as late as 2021 have ended up on this website. Thank you very much.

I thank the representative of the Russian Federation for the statement, and I now give the floor to the representative of Somalia.

Thank you, Madam President. Somalia voted in favour of this resolution in view of its important objectives and our steadfast commitment to the children and armed conflict agenda. We support the resolution's emphasis on accountability in the digital environment, privacy, and data protection. We also acknowledge the recognition that digital solutions should complement rather than replace children in-person protection and education. While Somalia participated constructively and in good faith throughout the negotiations, we regret that the penholder did not sufficiently accommodate these concerns in the final text. Therefore, we wish to place on record several concerns regarding its implementation. First, national ownership must remain at the center of implementation. The protection of children is primarily the responsibility of national governments. Measures relating to children protection systems, digital policy, education, data collection, and cooperation with private sector providers should be developed under national leadership and in accordance with domestic laws, priorities, capacities, and circumstances. Somalia also would have welcomed a clearer and more substantive recognition of the role of regional and subregional organizations, including the African Union and relevant African regional subbodies. These organizations possess valuable knowledge of local context and conflict dynamics. Second, Several provisions may expand existing mandates and place substantial responsibilities on the conflict-affected and developing countries without sufficient clarity regarding resources, technical assistance, and implementation. The required institutional and technical capacities cannot be established through our policy commitments alone. Therefore, new expectations should be matched by predictable resources and sustained capacity building aligned with national priorities. Moreover, international support should strengthen rather than duplicate or replace national institutions and processes. Third, Somalia is also concerned that the collection, storage, and sharing of sensitive digital information concerning children could expose them to further harm. Such activities must be guided by the best interests of the child and supported by national safeguards concerning privacy, consent, confidentiality, and protection against re-victimization. In closing, our affirmative vote reflects Somalia's support for the resolution's overarching objectives. We trust that the concerns we have raised will receive due consideration during its implementation. We stand ready to work constructively with Council members, the United Nations and relevant regional partners to advance the protection of children in armed conflict that are practical, properly resourced, nationally owned and responsive to the realities on the ground. I thank you.

I thank the representative of Somalia for the statement. I now give the floor to the representative of China.

President, in recent years, digital technologies have developed rapidly and applications have been rolled out quickly, bringing complex impacts on children in conflicts. Digital technologies can empower children's development and education, but may also be used to violate their rights. China supports the Council in taking timely measures based on evolving circumstances to strengthen the protection of children in conflicts. We therefore voted in favor of the draft resolution that was just adopted. We appreciate the penholder's efforts. At the same time, we have also noted that some legitimate concerns raised by some Council members have not been fully reflected, and the text still has room for improvement. Children are the most innocent victims in armed conflicts. China urges the parties to conflicts to cease hostilities and violence as soon as possible, fulfill their obligations under international humanitarian law, protect the safety of children, and prevent the use of digital technologies for violations and abuse against children. We support SRSG on CAAC and other UN mechanisms for child protection in strengthening collaboration and coordination in strict accordance with their own mandates and within existing resources, with a view to improving the effectiveness of child protection in conflicts. It is important to harness the potential of digital technologies in conflict settings and promote tools such as remote education, online platforms, and mobile terminals to break through the limitations of traditional classrooms in terms of time and space, safeguard the right to education for children in conflicts, and improve their digital literacy. Meanwhile, the development and application of digital technologies must fully respect the sovereignty and ownership of the countries concerned adhere to a people-centered approach, make smart technologies for good and for all, strengthen systematic regulation of digital service providers, ensure security of products and data, and eliminate the risks of misuse and privacy breaches. China stands ready to work with all parties to continue amplifying the positive effects of digital technologies and make greater efforts to protect the safety, rights, and interests of children affected by conflicts. Thank you, President.

I thank the representative of China for the statement. I now give the floor to the representative of Denmark.

Thank you, Madam President, and congratulations. Denmark co-sponsored and voted in favor of this resolution, and we welcome its adoption. We thank Greece for its efforts to advance the protection of children affected by armed conflict. We supported this resolution because we believe that the Council must address both the opportunities and the risks that digital technologies present for children in conflict. Digital tools can help children continue learning in conflict and strengthen the monitoring and reporting of grave violations. At the same time, online platforms can spread disinformation facilitate the recruitment and exploitation of children, and expose them to threats and technology-facilitated gender-based violence. Children's rights must be central to how digital technologies are developed, governed, and used. Stronger regulation of major technology companies is necessary to protect children. Their considerable influence over children's digital lives carries a responsibility to prevent harm. We support the Special Representative's engagement with these companies and would have welcomed stronger language on the responsibility to protect children's lives. We would also have welcomed stronger language on compliance with international humanitarian law and international human rights law, on gender-based violence, and on the essential role of country task forces on monitoring and reporting. We remain convinced of the importance of addressing the impact of digital technologies on children affected by armed conflict and the Council's role therein. Denmark will continue to advocate for these priorities. Madam President, this Council has a long-standing tradition of working together to protect children affected by armed conflict. We are pleased that this proved possible again today, and call on all members to uphold that commitment and support the effective implementation of this resolution and the wider CAC agenda. Thank you.

I thank the representative of Denmark for the statement. I now give the floor to the representative of Latvia.

Thank you, Madam President. Latvia voted in favor of the resolution on the impact of digital technologies on children in armed conflict, and we welcome its adoption. We thank Greece for their leadership and commitment to advancing this important and emerging topic. The importance of the CAAC agenda to international peace and security cannot be overstated. particularly as 2025 saw the highest verified number of grave violations against children since the establishment of the mandate. The Secretary-General's report also highlighted how the rapid evolution of technologies used in warfare has placed additional strain on child protection and increased harm done to children. The Council's increased focus on these impacts is therefore a welcome step. Further research, including through a gender perspective, will be essential to deepen our understanding of these harms. Existing evidence indicates that girls face heightened risks of technology-facilitated gender violence, which warrants particular attention. Digital technologies do not create a separate reality. They shape the one we share. Therefore, Latvia wishes to underscore that the same rights that people have offline must also be protected online. We also stress the vital role of the country task forces on monitoring and reporting in documenting the six grave violations against children in conflict. These task forces must have the resources and capacity to identify how digital technologies may be used to commit or facilitate these violations, enabling more targeted and effective prevention efforts. Madam President, Latvia remains firmly committed to the protection of children and will continue to call on all conflict parties to end and prevent grave violations against children and to fully uphold their obligation under international law. I thank you.

I thank the representative of Latvia for the statement. I now give the floor to the representative of the United States.

Thank you, Madam President. And on a personal note, I recall in our very first meeting when we got to New York that this is a matter that you mentioned, your focus and Greece's focus on protecting children in armed conflicts. So congratulations to you for your persistent leadership and shepherding a unanimous resolution today. Madam President, the United States voted in favor of this resolution, but we want to be clear about where we stand. No child should be denied safety, security, or an education because of armed conflict. That premise is not in dispute. What is less clear is whether this Council is serious about results or satisfied with rhetoric. First, this resolution emphasizes the importance of the UN Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict. The United States withdrew its support for that office because it has not delivered results. Expanding its role does not protect a single child. It expands a bureaucracy that has already failed to perform. We disassociate from these references. Second, international humanitarian law does not define the term child, and we have concerns about treating the recruitment of all soldiers who might fall within that category as unlawful. The United States' longstanding position on this matter is well known, and we again register our disagreement with the omission of the word "unlawful" in this context. Third, this resolution includes references to misinformation and disinformation, terms with no agreed definition under international law and with a troubling track record of being used to support censorship. We remain concerned that vague language of this kind can be used to restrict protected expression, and we flag that concern for the record. We raised each of these concerns throughout the negotiation of this text, and they remain unaddressed. The protection of children in armed conflict deserves more than recycled mandates and undefined terms. It deserves results. The United States will keep pushing to protect children. I thank you.

I thank the representative of the United States for the statement and now give the floor to the representative of Liberia.

Thank you. Thank you, Madam President. Liberia co-sponsored and voted in favor of this resolution because children affected by armed conflict need meaningful progress now. We welcome the attention to connectivity, education, digital resilience, privacy and personal data protection. Digital technologies should open pathways to learning and protection. They must never become another means through which conflict reaches children. We support the emphasis on accountability and stronger national mechanisms to investigate and prosecute violations against children, consistent with applicable international obligations. Those who use digital technologies to recruit, coerce, or exploit children must be held accountable. Effective implementation requires national ownership, respect for existing mandates, and adequate resources. Measures must respond to national circumstances and strengthen education and child protection services. Investment in digital learning must go hand in hand with investment in teachers, safe schools, and community support. Provisions concerning "malicious activities in the digital sphere" require particular care. Children subjected to recruitment, coercion, or exploitation must be treated primarily as victims, with their protection, recovery, and reintegration at the center of our response. Implementation must protect children from exploitation without compounding the harm they have suffered. Digital safety measures must respect children's rights, including privacy and access to information. Our affirmative vote carries a responsibility, which is to turn agreement into protection. Success will be measured by children safer from exploitation and better able to learn. Liberia will work with all members to make that progress real. And I thank you.

I thank the representative of Liberia for the statement. I now give the floor to the representative of Bahrain.

Madam President, we wish to express our appreciation to Greece for its efforts in presenting the draft resolution and the impact of digital technologies on violations and abuses committed against children in armed conflict and the role of technology in preventing such violations. The Kingdom of Bahrain co-sponsored the draft resolution and voted in its favor. Out of our commitment to protecting children affected by armed conflict and our determination to keep pace with technological challenges while benefiting from the opportunities that technology offers to strengthen prevention and protection, we reaffirm that the protection of children in armed conflict includes addressing risks arising in the digital space, particularly online recruitment and exploitation through digital platforms, the misuse of technology by armed and terrorist groups, It also emphasizes the importance of protecting the educational infrastructure from cyber attacks and ensuring the continuity of education in a safe environment. The Kingdom further stresses the importance of leveraging digital technologies to enhance prevention and protection of children and to support international efforts in accordance with relevant international law, including IHL and international human rights law, the Convention on the Rights of the Child and its Optional Protocol on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict. The Kingdom attaches importance to international cooperation, national capacity building, and the exchange of expertise to address digital risks and strengthen protection and prevention mechanisms while taking into account the needs of developing countries and bridging the digital gap. In conclusion, we reaffirm our commitment to support international efforts to protect children in armed conflict and to promote the safe and responsible use of modern technologies in a manner that safeguards the rights of children and ensures a safer future for them. Thank you.

I thank the representative of Bahrain for the statement. I shall now make a further statement in my capacity as the representative of Greece. Dear colleagues, Greece warmly welcomes the unanimous adoption of this resolution and sincerely thanks all members of the Council, as well as the many co-sponsors, for their support. Over months, of intensive and constructive negotiations. Greece, as penholder, engaged in good faith with every delegation, listened carefully to their concerns, and showed the greatest possible flexibility in bridging differing views. We are grateful to all colleagues for their engagement, their contribution, and their trust throughout the process. We have been guided by one firm conviction, the integrity and effectiveness of children and armed conflict mandate, and of the established United Nations mechanism that support it and must be preserved. They remain the backbone of our collective efforts to protect children affected by armed conflict. This resolution safeguards those foundations while adding a critical new dimension: the impact of digital technologies on children in armed conflict. Building on existing frameworks, it strengthens our collective response to threats that are evolving as fast as the technologies behind them. We trust that the Security Council will continue to advance this agenda in the spirit of dialogue, unity, and shared responsibility. The protection of children in armed conflict is integral to the maintenance of international peace and security. Greece's commitment to it remains unwavering, and it will continue to guide our work on this Council and beyond. I thank you. I resume my function as President of the Council. There are no more names inscribed on the list of speakers. The meeting is adjourned.