Virginia Gamba, the UN Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, delivered a stark rebuke to the international community for its failure to safeguard children amidst ongoing global conflicts.

In her statement, Gamba described the plight of children in war zones as "a stain on our collective conscience."

"A Stain on Our Collective Conscience"

Gamba's critique focused on the persistent and escalating violations against children, including recruitment by armed groups in regions like Colombia, the Sahel, Sudan, and Haiti. "The cries of these children echo across conflict zones, but far too often, the world remains silent," she lamented, emphasizing the urgent need for action to prevent children from becoming casualties of war.

Rising Violations in Conflict Zones

The 2024 report from Gamba's office highlighted disturbing statistics, with children making up 30% of casualties from landmines and explosive ordnance in conflict hotspots such as Gaza, Sudan, and Ukraine. The most common violations cited were the killing and maiming of children and attacks on schools and hospitals.

Calls for Urgent Action

To address these issues, Gamba proposed several critical interventions:

Safe Humanitarian Access: Ensuring that aid reaches children without obstruction.

Implementation of International Laws: Stronger enforcement of International Humanitarian Law, Human Rights Law, and the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Prohibitions on Explosives and Military Use of Schools: Immediate cessation of using wide-impact explosives in populated areas and converting schools into military bases, alongside the elimination of anti-personnel landmines.

“These commitments can help children survive armed conflict when adults are not willing to commit to lasting peace,” Gamba stated, underscoring the necessity of these measures.

A Call for Compassion in 2025

Looking ahead to 2025, Gamba urged a transformation in global attitudes from indifference to compassion. "Let us choose compassion over indifference and peace over war," she appealed, calling on the world to demonstrate that the wishes and lives of children in conflict zones are of paramount importance.

Gamba's statement not only serves as a call to action but also as a poignant reminder of the international community's responsibility to protect the most vulnerable in times of war, holding all parties accountable for their inaction. (ILKHA)