Resolution 1539 (2004) / adopted by the Security Council at its 4948th meeting, on 22 April 2004

Security Council resolution 1539 (2004) [on children in armed conflict]

Strongly condemns the recruitment and use of child soldiers by parties to armed conflict in violation of international obligations applicable to them; decides to continue the inclusion of specific provisions for the protection of children in the mandates of UN peacekeeping operations, including, on a case-by-case basis, the deployment of child protection advisers (CPAs), and requests the Secretary-General to ensure that the need for, and the number and roles of CPAs are systematically assessed during the preparation of each UN peacekeeping operation; reiterates its request to the Secretary-General to ensure that in all his reports on country-specific situations, the protection of children is included as a specific aspect of the report and expresses its intention to give its full attention to the information provided therein when dealing with those situations on its agenda and in this regard stresses the primary responsibility of the UN peacekeeping missions and UN country teams, consistent within their respective mandates, to ensure effective follow-up to this and the other resolutions.

Adopted unanimously, 4948th meeting

5 p.

Issued in: Resolutions and decisions of the Security Council, 1 August 2003-31 July 2004 - S/INF/59 - (SCOR, 59th year).