Statement / by the President of the Security Council

Statement [made on behalf of the Security Council, at the 6114th meeting, 29 Apr. 2009, in connection with the Council's consideration of the item entitled "Children and armed conflict"]

Reaffirms its commitment to address the widespread impact of armed conflict on children; stresses the importance of adopting a broad strategy of conflict prevention; reiterates its equally strong condemnation of the continuing recruitment and use of children in armed conflict; expresses deep concern with the high incidence and appalling levels of brutality of rape and other forms of sexual violence against children; reiterates its call on parties to armed conflict that have not already done so to prepare and implement, without further delay, concrete time-bound action plans to halt recruitment and use of children; emphasizes the need for concerned Member States to take decisive and immediate action against persistent perpetrators of violations against children; reiterates the importance of the full, safe and unhindered access of humanitarian personnel and goods and the delivery of humanitarian assistance to all children affected by armed conflict; invites the Peacebuilding Commission to continue to promote child protection in post-conflict situations under its consideration; requests the Secretary-General to submit his next report by May 2010 on the implementation of its resolutions on children and armed conflict.

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