76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly
Addressing Challenges of Children without Parental Care in Conflict Settings
Statement by Ambassador Sven Jürgenson
December 3, New York
Thank you, Mr Chair.
We thank Vietnam for convening today’s discussion, as well as the briefers for their interventions.
We welcome the continued attention of the Security Council on children and armed conflict. With the continued high level of violations against children in conflicts around the world, their protection is relevant to each and every discussion we have.
In addressing this, we should leave no-one behind – including children belonging to the most vulnerable groups, such as orphans and children without parental care. We therefore value the added focus on orphans brought by today’s discussion.
Estonia underlines that compliance with international law, including international humanitarian law and international human rights law, is key in ending and preventing violations against children. In this regard we affirm the importance of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and its Optional Protocol, as well as the key principle of the best interests of the child.
Children without parental care are among those most vulnerable to violations in conflict, including the 6 grave violations. At the same time, their access to care, services, protection and justice is further limited.
The added stress posed by the COVID-pandemic amplifies these challenges. These vulnerabilities are further exacerbated for girls, children with disabilities and refugee or displaced children.
We support the work of the UN, including UNICEF and the Office of the SRSG CAAC, in addressing the needs and protection of children affected by armed conflict, including the specific needs related to children without parental care. Ensuring access to education, health-care, including for mental health, and a comprehensive range of services for children without parental care is essential so that we really “leave no-one behind”.
We therefore welcome the added visibility and awareness of this issue in our efforts to protect children in conflict, which today’s discussion hopefully brings.
Thank you.