On the International Day against the Use of Child Soldiers, we reiterate the importance of protecting children from the ravages of war, as we witness the staggering scale of todays conflicts and their devastating impact on children. One in five children worldwide lives in conflict-affected settings. Children are often the first and always the most vulnerable victims of armed conflict. Survivors endure severe physical and psychological trauma, prolonged displacement, and the disruption of education and livelihoods, consequences that can irreparably compromise their future prospects and overall well-being.
In 2024 alone, the United Nations verified the recruitment and use of 7,402 children by parties to conflict. A third of the affected children were girls, facing distinct and severe risks, including forced marriage and sexual exploitation. At least 3,018 children were deprived of liberty for their actual or alleged association with armed parties to conflict.
At a time when multilateralism faces growing pressure, strong partnerships matter more than ever. Cooperation between the European Union, the African Union and the United Nations remains central to advancing the shared goal of protecting children affected by conflict and paving the way to sustainable peace.
We reaffirm our unwavering commitment to protecting children affected by armed conflict and to ending and preventing the recruitment and use of children by armed forces and armed groups worldwide.
We remain equally committed to addressing the root causes that drive child recruitment. We call on all parties in conflict situations to comply fully with international law, to immediately and unconditionally release all children from their ranks, and to ensure that children associated with parties to conflict are treated first and foremost as victims. Criminalising the recruitment and use of children and putting in place prevention measures, such as age verification mechanisms, are also fundamental to eradicating the recruitment and use of children, as well as the adoption of handover protocols to civilian actors. Universal ratification and effective implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and its Optional Protocol on the involvement of children in armed conflict, the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, remain essential to preventing and ending this and other grave violations against children.
The international community must also prioritise sustainable reintegration and accountability. Beyond emergency assistance, conflict-affected children need long-term, comprehensive assistance, including health and psychosocial support, education, and access to livelihood opportunities. Without sustained support, children remain at risk of re-recruitment, perpetuating cycles of violence and instability.
The protection of children underpins peace itself. Their voices must guide and inform our shared action. As Gabriela Mistral once aptly put it: “The child cannot wait.” Therefore, let us not compromise their future.
European Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management, Hadja Lahbib
African Union Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Ambassador Bankole Adeoye
Under-Secretary-General, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, Vanessa Frazier