Children and Armed Conflict: At the UN, DR Congo Urges Child Protection to Be Included in Peace Agreements

At a UN Security Council meeting on October 26, Ambassador Jocelyne Kabengele Lukundulu described the continuing impact of armed conflict on children in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. She urged that child protection be built into ceasefires, peace agreements and transitional justice mechanisms, with children’s release and reintegration and the protection of schools treated as priorities. The DRC also called for efforts to prevent violations, fight impunity, preserve access to education and strengthen early-warning systems and national protection capacity. The ambassador said UN mechanisms had helped secure the release of more than 220,000 children and the adoption of 38 action plans, and welcomed the recent adoption of Resolution 2832 on digital technology.