UNGA81 Third Committee Interactive Dialogue with the Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict Ms. Vanessa Frazier
Statement delivered by Ms. Katri Lõhmus, Deputy Permanent Representative of Estonia
on behalf of the Nordic Baltic countries:
Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway and Sweden
New York, 12 October 2026
Chair,
I have the honour to speak on behalf of the Nordic and Baltic States.
We thank Special Representative Vanessa Frazier for her briefing and for her continued work to protect children affected by armed conflict.
The latest report makes clear that violations against children in armed conflict have reached shocking levels, with an unprecedented number of children affected – the highest since the beginning of the mandate 30 years ago.
We strongly condemn these violations and call for their immediate and complete cessation. Parties to conflict must fully respect their obligations under international law, refrain from using explosive weapons in populated areas, end and prevent all forms of sexual and gender-based violence, ensure safe, rapid and unimpeded humanitarian access, and cooperate fully with international accountability mechanisms, including the ICC.
We reaffirm our steadfast support for the CAAC mandate and underline its vital role in preventing and responding to grave violations against children affected by armed conflict. In the context of ongoing UN reforms, we underline the need to preserve and strengthen monitoring, reporting and accountability mechanisms, as well as dedicated child protection capacities. These are essential to preventing and ending grave violations against children and ensuring their protection, with particular attention to children in the most vulnerable and marginalized situations.
We also underline that participation in UN peace operations must be consistent with the highest standards of international humanitarian law, human rights and child protection. Parties repeatedly listed in the annexes of the Secretary-General’s annual reports on children and armed conflict should be subject to robust scrutiny and should demonstrate credible, concrete and time-bound measures to end and prevent grave violations against children.
Madame Special Representative, how can the United Nations strengthen safeguards and accountability to ensure that parties repeatedly listed for grave violations against children are held accountable, including in relation to their participation in UN peace operations?
Thank you.
