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Holy See: International community needs to increase efforts to protect children in wars
The Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See to the United Nations issues a statement calling states and the international community to further work to protect children and vulnerable people that are affected by conflicts and wars.
By Isabella H. de Carvalho
As conflicts continue to affect many countries across the world, the international community needs to increase its efforts to safeguard children and other vulnerable victims of war, the Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See to the United Nations said in a statement for the Security Council’s Open Debate on Children and Armed Conflict in New York on June 25.
“The international community must not fail in its responsibility to protect the lives, dignity and future of children affected by armed conflict,” the statement highlighted.
“The response to their suffering will serve as an indicator of both the commitment to international law, and the respect for the God-given human dignity of each person.”
Children bearing the brunt of conflict
The Permanent Observer Mission noted how “children continue to bear a disproportionate share of the suffering caused by armed conflict,” with many killed or injured in areas that should be safe such as at home, in school, hospitals or places of worship.
“Others live with the consequences of violence long after the fighting has ended, experiencing trauma, disability and loss,” the statement continued, highlighting also how the documented rise in grave violations against children in armed conflicts should prompt action.
“The Holy See remains particularly concerned by the continued recruitment, abuse and abduction of children,” the statement emphasized.
“These grave violations rob children of their childhood, separate them from their families and communities, and expose them to violence and exploitation, resulting in lasting consequences. Equally troubling are the effects of displacement, family separation, and the disruption of education and healthcare, as they deprive countless children of the conditions necessary for their well-being and integral human development.”
The statement emphasizes how these situations are an affront to the God-given dignity of every child and should not be considered simply as collateral damage in the prosecution of war.
States’ responsibility
The Holy See’s Permanent Observer Mission also noted with concern the growing integration of emerging technologies, such as “unmanned and artificial intelligence-supported systems,” into military operations, adding that this also relates to the protection of children.
Recalling Pope Leo XIV’s words in his encyclical, Magnifica humanitas, the statement underscored that “while technology can assist human beings in decision-making, it can never replace the moral judgment, responsibility, and accountability that must accompany decisions affecting human life.”
“Therefore, the Holy See urges all parties in conflict to fully comply with international humanitarian law and to uphold fundamental human rights law, ensuring that the special protections granted to children are respected in all circumstances,” the statement insisted, emphasizing the responsibility of States to protect civilians from hostilities and strength accountability for violations against children.
Lastly, the Holy See also encouraged all States that haven’t to endorse the Political Declaration on Strengthening the Protection of Civilians from the Humanitarian Consequences arising from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas, an international commitment adopted in 2022.
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