4. Guidelines on children and armed conflict
| Author | Council of the European Union[ |
| Pages | 31-37 |
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In the past decade alone, armed conflicts are estimated to have claimed the lives of over two million children and physically maimed six million more. Conflict deprives children of parents, care-givers, basic social services, health care and education. There are some twenty million displaced and refugee children, while others are held hostage, abducted or trafficked. Systems of birth registration and juvenile justice systems collapse. At any given time, there are estimated to be at least 300,000 child soldiers participating in conflicts.
Children have special short and long term post-conflict needs, such as for tracing of family members, redress and social reintegration, psycho-social rehabilitation programmes, participation in disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration programmes as well as within transitional justice frameworks.
In many situations, there remains a climate of impunity for those committing crimes against children, as proscribed by international humanitarian law and the Rome Statue of the International Criminal Court.
The Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) is almost universally ratified, but by no means universally applied. Particularly in situations of armed conflict, children suffer disproportionately, in a variety of ways, and with long lasting effects. The impact of armed conflict on future generations may sow the seeds for conflicts to continue or to re-emerge. The Optional Protocol to the CRC on the involvement of children in armed conflict aimed at countering this situation.
Promotion and protection of the rights of the child is a priority of the EU's human rights policy. The European Union (EU) considers it of critical importance to address the issue of children and armed conflict both because children hold the future, and because they have rights, as set out in the CRC, its Optional Protocols and other international and regional human rights instruments. The EU aims to raise the awareness of this issue by giving more prominence to EU actions in this field, both within the EU and towards third parties.
The EU undertakes to address the short, medium and long term impact of armed conflict on children in an effective and Page 32 comprehensive manner, making use of the variety of tools at its disposal, and building on past and ongoing activities (overview of EU actions in Annex I). The EU's objective is to influence third countries and non state actors to implement international human rights norms and standards and humanitarian law, as well as regional international human rights law instruments (as in Annex II) and to take effective measures to protect children from the effects of armed conflict, to end the use of children in armies and armed groups, and to end impunity.
The EU is founded on the principles of liberty, democracy, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, and the rule of law. These principles are common to the Member States. Respect for human rights features among the key objectives of the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), which includes the European Security and Defense Policy (ESDP). Respect for human rights is also part of the Community's policies regarding trade and development co-operation and humanitarian assistance.
The promotion and protection of the rights of all children is a priority concern of the EU and its Member States. In its work to ensure the protection of children affected by armed conflict, the EU is guided by relevant international and regional norms and standards on human rights and humanitarian law including, inter alia, those contained in Annex II.
The EU supports the work of the relevant actors, in particular the UN Secretary General, the Special Representative of the Secretary General for Children and Armed Conflict, UNICEF, UNIFEM, OHCHR, UNHCR, UNDP, the Committee on the Rights of the Child, the Human Rights Committee, the Council of Europe, OSCE/ODIHR as well as UN Special Mechanisms and other relevant actors such as the ICRC, the Human Security Network and civil society organisations. The EU will pro-actively contribute and work with these actors to ensure that the existing international safeguards to the rights of the child are strengthened and effectively implemented.
Regular monitoring, reporting and assessments form the basis for the identification of situations where EU action is called for. Where EU-led crisis management operations are concerned, decision making will proceed on a case-by-case basis, bearing in mind the potential mandate for the specific action and the means and capabilities at the disposal of the EU.
In their periodic reports and where relevant, the EU Heads of Mission, Heads of Mission of civilian operations, EU Military Commanders (through the chain of command) as well as the EU Special Representatives will include an analysis of the effects of conflict or looming conflict on children. These reports should address in particular violations and abuses against children, recruitment and deployment of children by armies and armed groups, killing and maiming of children, attacks against schools and hospitals, blockage of humanitarian access, sexual and gender-based violence against children, abduction of children and the measures taken to combat them by the parties in case. They Page 33 will include in their normal reporting periodic evaluation of the effect and impact of EU actions on children in conflict situations where appropriate. Lessons learned from EU crisis management operations may form another important source of information for the competent working parties provided they are not classified.
The Commission will draw the attention of the Council and Member States to relevant reporting in this area and provide further information, where appropriate and necessary, on Community-funded projects aimed at children and armed conflict and post- conflict rehabilitation. Member States will feed into this overview by providing information on bilateral projects in this area.
The Council Working Group on Human Rights (COHOM) in close co-ordination with other relevant working parties, will on the basis of the above mentioned reports and other relevant information, such as reports and recommendations from the UNSG (including the list of parties to armed conflict that recruit or use children as annexed to the annual report to the UN Security Council on children and armed conflict), the Special Representative of the Secretary General for Children and Armed Conflict, UNICEF, UN Special Mechanisms and human rights Treaty Bodies as well as non-governmental organisations, at regular intervals identify situations where EU actions are called upon, in particular where alarming situations arise which call for immediate attention, and make recommendations for such action to the appropriate level (PSC/Coreper/Council).
The EU has a variety of tools for action at its disposal. The EU will build on existing initiatives in order to consolidate, strengthen and advance EU actions for children affected by armed conflict (as in Annex I). In addition, the tools at the EU's disposal include, inter alia, the following:
Political dialogue: The human rights component of the political dialogue between the EU and third countries and regional organ- isations shall, where relevant, include all aspects of the rights and well being of the child during pre-conflict, conflict and post- conflict situations.
Dmarches: EU will make dmarches and issue public statements urging relevant third countries to take effective measures to ensure protection of children from the effects of armed conflict, to end the use of children in armies and armed groups, and to end impunity. The EU Special Representatives and Heads of Mission will be tasked to continue to address the matter with non state actors where relevant. Where appropriate, the EU will also react to positive developments that have taken place.
Multilateral co-operation: the Community is engaged in funding projects relating to children and armed conflict in several fields, in particular for Disarmament, Demobilisation, Reintegration and Rehabilitation (DDRR) and through humanitarian assistance. The Commission will identify possibilities for extending such support, for example in the context of its Country Strategy Papers and its Mid Term reviews. Member Page 34 States will equally seek to reflect priorities set out in these guidelines in their bilateral cooperation projects.
Crisis management operations: during the planning process, the question of protection of children should be adequately addressed. In countries where the EU is engaged with crisis management operations, and bearing in mind the mandate of the operation and the means and capabilities at the disposal of the EU, the operational planning should take into account, as appropriate, the specific needs of children, bearing in mind the particular vulnerability of the girl child. In pursuit of the relevant UNSC resolutions, the EU will give special attention to the protection, welfare and rights of children in armed conflict when taking action aimed at maintaining peace and security.
Making use of the various tools at its disposal, the EU will seek to ensure that specific needs of children will be taken into account in early-warning and preventive approaches as well as actual conflict situations, peace negotiations, peace agreements, ensuring that crimes committed against children be excluded from all amnesties, post-conflict phases of reconstruction, rehabilitation, rein- tegration and long-term development. In this context, the EU will take advantage of and build on experience gained within the UN system and regional organisations. Girls and those who are refugees, displaced, separated, abducted, affected by HIV/AIDS, disabled, subject to sexual exploitation or in detention are particularly vulnerable.
Training: the co-ordinated EU Training Concept in the field of crisis management should take account of the implications of these guidelines.
Other measures: the EU might consider making use of other tools at its disposal where appropriate, such as the imposition of targeted measures.
COHOM is furthermore requested to:
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oversee the implementation of EU action taken in accordance with these guidelines and to that end develop modalities to render paragraph 12 operational. In this context, reference is made to the 25 June 2001 GAC conclusions, which recalled that the Community actions should be consistent with the EU's action as a whole;
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promote and oversee mainstreaming of the issue of children and armed conflict throughout all relevant EU policies and actions;
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undertake ongoing review of the implementation of these guidelines, in close coordination with the relevant working groups, Special Representatives, Heads of Mission, Heads of Mission of civilian operations and EU Military Commanders (through the chain of command);
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continue to examine, as appropriate, further ways of co-operation with the UN and other international and regional inter- governmental organisations, NGOs as well as corporate actors in this area;
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report to PSC on an annual basis on progress made towards fulfilling the objectives set out in these guidelines;
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submit an evaluation of these guidelines to the Council, two years after the adoption of these guidelines, with recommendations Page 35 for improvements or updates as appropriate;
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on that basis, consider establishing a focal point (for instance a special group of experts or Special Representative) to ensure the future implementation of these guidelines.
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Council Conclusions of 10 December 2002 (doc. 15138/02, page 9).
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Common Positions on human rights and good governance in Africa (98/350/CFSP).
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Common Positions on Rwanda, Somalia, Sierra Leone, Zimbabwe, DRC, Nigeria, Liberia, Angola, Cuba (including the imposition of targeted sanctions in some of these cases).
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Common Position on the ICC (2001/433/CFSP as amended by CP 2002/474/CFSP).
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Joint Actions (DRC, South Ossetia, Bosnia Herzegovina, various special representatives), and Common Strategies (Russia, Ukraine, Mediterranean region).
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EU Code of Conduct on Arms Export adopted on 8 June 1998. Ongoing work to introduce EU-wide controls on the exports of paramilitary equipment.
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Common Position on conflict diamonds and Council Regulation implementing the Kimberley Process certification scheme for the international trade in rough diamonds (doc. 15328/02).
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Guidelines to EU policy towards third countries on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment (doc. 7369/01) and working paper to implement the guidelines (doc. 15437/02).
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European Union Guidelines on the Death Penalty (doc. 9199/98).
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European Union Guidelines on Human Rights Dialogues (doc. 14469/01).
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Council Conclusions of 16 June 2003 on Artemis Operation in Bunia, DRC (doc. 10369/03).
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Crisis management operations in Bosnia Herzegovina, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.
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Council conclusions concerning the declaration by the EU and the UN on cooperation between the two in crisis management (doc. 12875/03).
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Council Conclusions of 21 July 2003 on co-operation between the EU and the UN on crisis management: protection of civilians in EU-led crisis management operations (doc. 11439/03).
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Draft guidelines on protection of civilians in EU-led crisis management operations (doc. 14805/03).
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Comprehensive EU concept for missions in the field of rule of law in crisis management, including annexes (doc. 9792/03).
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Implementation of the EU programme for the Prevention of Violent Conflicts (doc. 10680/03). This programme sets out the various EU initiatives undertaken in the context of conflict prevention, including training of officials.
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Harmonisation of training for EU civilian aspects of crisis management and recruiting (doc. 11675/1/03) and Common Criteria for training for EU aspects of Page 36 civilian aspects of management (doc. 15310/03).
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The EC has contributed to increase the UN capabilities in areas such as rapid deployment, training and DD&R (disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration). The Commission and the Council Secretariat's Policy Unit have also developed "conflict indicators" (watch lists of countries in difficult situations). One programme example is the co-operation with the African Union in order to improve its capacity building on the peaceful solution of conflicts and desk to desk co-operation with partner countries covering specific sectors such as illegal exports of timber and water resources.
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Council Resolution on Corporate Social Responsibility (doc. 5049/03).
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Various Trade and Co-operation Agreements, in particular the ACP-EU "Cotonou" Partnership Agreement, contain specific paragraphs on children, conflict prevention, human rights.
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Assistance and protection of vulnerable children is seen in the wider context of poverty eradication, therefore, in the framework of EC development cooperation. Children are an important focal group of external aid, in particular in sectoral policies such as education and health. Numerous child-related activities are funded by the EC through ECHO, EDF, EIDHR.
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Assistance and protection of children involved in armed conflicts is channeled through a number of Commission programmes. The promotion of children's rights was one of the priorities for funding under the European Initiative for Human Rights and Democracy in 2001 and is mainstreamed in funding for the period 2002-2004.
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Child-related activities were one of the three priorities for ECHO 2003 strategy. ECHO has in the past supported humanitarian operations with a child component. Examples of projects in 2001 and 2002 include: demobilisation, rehabilitation and reintegration projects (Uganda), health and nutrition projects (Sudan, Colombia, Palestine), psychosocial support (Sierra Leone, Sudan, West Bank, Gaza Strip and Lebanon), funding of schools in emergency camps for displaced persons (DRC, Sudan, Sierra Leone, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia among others), family tracing and reunification (Colombia).
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ECHO also funded research and advocacy activities of Save the Children, Belgian Red Cross and others and is considering to support a UNICEF initiative to improve availability of quality data on children affected by armed conflicts.
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Resolutions on the rights of the child introduced by EU, jointly with GRULAC, at Commission on Human Rights and Third Committee of UN General Assembly on a yearly basis. These resolutions contain paragraphs on children and armed conflict.
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EU statements in and contributions to Security Council, UNGA, CHR and UNGASS (8-10 May 2002), Monterrey Consensus.
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The EP called upon the Council to adopt a limited strategy on children and armed conflict in its Annual Report of 2003 (adopted in September).
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The EU-ACP Joint Parliamentary Assembly adopted a resolution on children and armed conflict at its meeting on 12 October in Rome, following a report by two of its members, published in June 2003.
- Convention on the Rights of the Child, 1989
- Optional Protocol II to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict, 2002
- Optional Protocol I to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography, 2002
- African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, 1990
- ILO Convention 182 concerning the Prohibition and Immediate Action for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour, 1999
- Geneva Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War, 1949
- Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, 1949
- Protocol Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, and Relating to the Protection of Victims of International Armed Conflicts (Protocol I), 1978
- Protocol Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, and Relating to the Protection of Victims of Non-International Armed Conflicts (Protocol II), 1977
- Convention relating to the Status of Refugees, 1951
- Protocol relating to the Status of Refugees, 1967
- Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement, 1998
- Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, 2002
- Amended Statute of the International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991, 1993 (as amended in 1998, 2000, 2002)
- Statute of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, 1994
- Security Council Resolution 1261 (1999)
- Security Council Resolution 1314 (2000)
- Security Council Resolution 1379 (2001)
- Security Council Resolution 1460 (2003)
