Children and Armed Conflict: At the UN, Vanessa Frazier Highlights DR Congo’s Efforts to Prevent Child Recruitment into the National Armed Forces

On October 26, 2026, at a UN Security Council session on children and armed conflict, Vanessa Frazier called on member states to step up efforts to prevent grave violations against children. Marking 30 years of the UN mandate, she recalled the legacy of Graça Machel’s 1996 report and the role of international child-protection instruments. Frazier said more than 40 action plans had helped secure the release of over 220,000 children from armed forces and groups. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, an action plan has established measures to prevent the national armed forces from recruiting or using children.