IMUN 2017

The United Nations Children's Fund

(UNICEF)

Topic A:
Child, Early and Forced Marriage

A. Overview
Marriage is a ritually or socially recognized union or legal contract between
spouses that establishes rights and obligations between them, between their children,
and their in-laws. The definition of marriage varies according to different cultures. In
some cultures, marriage is recommended or considered to be compulsory before
pursuing any sexual activity. When defined broadly, marriage is considered a cultural
universal.
Child, early and forced marriage (CEFM) is perpetuated by poverty and gender
discrimination. A child marriage is a marriage where one or both spouses are under
the age of 18. It is related to child betrothal and teenage pregnancy. Child marriage
was common throughout history no matter in the east or west countries. While child
marriage is observed for both boys and girls, the overwhelming majority of child
spouses are girls. In many cases, only one marriage-partner is a child, usually the
female, due to the importance placed upon female virginity. Causes of child marriage
include poverty, bride price, dowry, laws that allow child marriages, religious and
social pressures, regional customs, fear of remaining unmarried and perceived
inability of women to work for money. It is estimated that between the year 2004 and
2014, 100 million girls worldwide have been forced to marry before their 18th
birthday. Child, early and forced marriage is a widespread and harmful practice that
threatens the lives or futures of girls and young women around the world.
The history of child marriage can be traced back to thousands years ago. No
major world religion sanctions forced marriage. It is purely a cultural practice.
However, no culture exclusively practices forced marriage. Victims are forced into
marriage for many different reasons. Indian feudalistic society became present, where
characteristics such as honor, rivalry, and animosity were important qualities to
possess, and because of this, families and kingdoms created strong military alliances
to preserve or destroy power between them. It also happened in China and the middle
ancient times in Europe. The children were the assurance that the alliance between the
families was honored, but in case it wasn't enough, the families made a marriage
arrangement to deepen the alliance even further.
Child marriage tradition in the ancient period has social reasons, too. They
performed child marriages to get their girls protected against rapes and abductions by
foreign rulers. The other reason was to satisfy the elder people who wanted to see
their grandchildren marriages before their death. In some economically poor families,
the parents used to perform marriages to their under aged girls even with much
elderly men. Children are forced to marry as their parents create pressure on them

because if young girls are not married in some villages, the whole family is
abandoned from the village.
B. Statement of Problem
Child, early and forced marriage, most prevalent in Sub-Saharan Africa and
South Asia, is a widespread and harmful practice that threatens the lives and futures of
girls around the world with devastating consequences. CEFM denies girls their right
to childhood, disrupts their access to education and jeopardizes their health. There are
many factors that contribute to CEFM, including poverty, gender inequality,
traditional or religious pressures, girls lack of access to education, limited economic
empowerment for women, and humanitarian crises. CEFM also hinders development.
When girls are not able to reach their full potential, everyone suffersgirls, their
families, communities and countries.
CEFM is a global problem which cuts across countries, cultures, religious,
ethnicities, and fuelled by poverty, social, cultural norms. For many families, it is a
perceived economic need one less mouth to feed. Long-held beliefs and traditions
based on gender inequality mean that becoming a wife and mother is often deemed a
daughters only choice. This practice robs young girls of their childhood and basic
rights.
Child brides are often disempowered, dependent on their husbands and deprived
of their fundamental rights to health, education and safety. Neither physically nor
emotionally ready to become wives and mothers, child brides are at greater risk of
experiencing dangerous complications in pregnancy and childbirth, becoming infected
with HIV/AIDS and suffering domestic violence. With little access to education and
economic opportunities, they and their families are more likely to live in poverty.
One of the major challenges is the lack of a specific policy and law on child.
There is no age limit for marriages under customary law, they are not registered and
they are potentially polygamous. Due to high levels of poverty parents and guardians
resort to marrying off their children for survival, this situation coupled with lack of
knowledge about the law, no information about the fact that child, early and forced
marriage is a crime leads to cases rising and increasing in spite of the measures that
have been put in place.
Families in poverty usually feel they have no alternative to child marriage. They
may lack the resources to educate their daughters and their society may not offer
incentives to protect girls from child marriage. Giving a daughter in marriage allows

parents to reduce family expenses by ensuring they have one less person to feed,
clothe and educate. In communities where economic transactions are integral to the
marriage process, a dowry or bride price is often welcome income for poor families.
In some contexts families marry their daughters at a younger age to avoid more
expensive dowry payments which the marriage of older girls often demands. Girls
from poor families are more than three times more likely to marry before 18 as girls
from wealthier families.
Over 700 million women alive today were married before they turned 18. Any
marriage performed without valid consent of one or both parties, may cause physical
or emotional trauma. One in every three girls in the developing world is married by
the age of 18. One in nine marries before the age of 15. It is estimated that 15 million
girlssome as young as five years oldare forced into marriage. Complications in
childbirth are the leading cause of death among girls between the ages of 15 to 19 in
the developing world.
Early marriage is a difficult problem to tackle because its causes are deeply
rooted in cultural beliefs and practices that have been prevalent for generations.
Although no major religion endorses child marriage, religious belief has often been
distorted to support it in some regions. However, its not only effects their mental
development, but also effects the education of the next generation. Children are the
capital of the society and the pioneer of the future. Thus, how to end forced and early
marriage through the cooperation with other countries is really an important matter.
C. Current Situation
The reason for child marriage is a combination of poverty, gender inequality and
a lack of adherence to childrens rights. These issues, coupled with a lack of access to
education and entrenched social norms, cause child marriage to carry on. But if
nothing is done to stop current trends, over 140 million girls will be married as
children by 2020. It causes some serious problems like:
A. Health risks for child brides
Child marriage increases girls risk of violence, abuse, and HIV infection.
Forced and child marriages are also more likely to become violent because
the relationship is based on the power of one spouse over the other. Rape
occurs frequently in forced and child marriages and has severe
consequences, especially for young brides. Young married women are more
susceptible to sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), including HIV/AIDS.
B. Early pregnancy

This is the most serious of early marriage problems. Girls who are married
before 18 will often have children long before they are physically ready.
Each year, 13.7 million girls aged 15-19 give birth. Complications in
pregnancy and childbirth are the leading killer of girls in this age range in
developing countries.
C. Increased infant mortality:
Adolescent mothers are more likely to give birth prematurely or have
stillborn babies. Their children are at increased risk of death in infancy.
Infant death rates in babies of mothers under the age of 20 are 50% higher
than those over 20.
D. The right to education
Early marriages often interrupt a victims education. Victims tend to be
isolated from their peers and friends. They rarely have access to social
services that could assist them. This deprives them of their right to
education, as well as limits any possibility of economic independence from
their spouse, making it more difficult to escape from an unwanted marriage
and poverty.
E. The lack of safeguard when divorced
The unofficial nature of many of these marriages means that they often go
unregistered, leaving a woman with no legal protections in cases of
separation. Some marriages are purely religious; they are not registered or
recognized by the state. In the event of a divorce, the couples assets are not
divided, and the woman often ends up homeless and with little or no money.
Humanitarians are deeply concerned that the practices of early and forced
marriage are widespread and constitute violations of human rights, prevent
individuals from living their lives free from all forms of violence and protect the right
to education, the right to the highest attainable standard of health, including sexual
and reproductive health.
Greater numbers of countries are taking action to reform laws to end child
marriage. But even though the international community urges them to reform their
laws, many countries have not implemented the provisions in these treaties and
conventions. This failure means that tens of millions of girls are at risk of becoming
child brides.
Child, early and forced marriage continues to be an impediment not only to the
economic, legal, health and social status of women and girls but also to the
development of the community and the country as a whole, and that the

empowerment of and investment in women and girls, as well as their meaningful

participation in decisions that affect them, is a key factor in breaking the cycle of
gender inequality and discrimination, violence and poverty and is critical for
sustainable development and economic growth.
D. Case Study
The extreme cases of child marriages include the Democratic Republic of
Congo, Afghanistan and Bangladesh, where many girls are married before 18. In
Nepal, 7% of girls are married before they are 10, and 40% by age 15. In Egypt,
studies show that 29% of young brides have been beaten by their husband or other
relatives.
Domestic violence often causes girls to run away, and in several countries this
can trigger "honor killings" by male relatives eager to wipe out a perceived disgrace
to the family. UNICEF says early marriage constitutes a violation of a girl's human
rights, primarily because it can deprive her of the right to give full and free consent to
marry.
Pregnancy-related deaths are the leading cause of mortality for girls aged 15 to 19
worldwide. While this is often linked to poor health care, the risks are increased by
the physical immaturity of the girls, the report said.
Child marriage also happens in Kenya. Research shows that 22.9 percents of
women aged 20-24 married before age 18. They share two things in common---school
dropouts and pregnancy. Girls drop out from school in Kenya are mostly because of
financial difficulties. Their family cannot afford school fees. Thus, when girls drop
out from schools, they face social pressure and financial pressure, which actuate them
to marry early in order to seek for dependency from men.
Moreover, many girls in Kenya do not understand their own sexual autonomy
and their rights to avoid pregnancy. The fact that girls lack of knowledge about how
to prevent pregnancy and their own rights is also a main reason of early marriage.
However, to fix this problem, the most common solution shared by the parents in
Kenya is for unmarried girls to stay inside and avoid relationship with boys.

E. UN past action
2008 -- UNICEF issues annual appeal to meet needs of children and women in global
emergencies.

NEW YORK, USA, 12 February 2008 Calling on donors to help address 39

specific crises around the world. UNICEF launched its annual Humanitarian Action
Report outlining the organizations funding requirements for emergency work.
The report details financial needs beyond regular country program budgets. The
appeal for more than $850 million worldwide targets the largest allocations for
Pakistan, Uganda, Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
2013 -- UN Human Rights Council Resolution: Strengthening Efforts to Prevent and
Eliminate CEFM.
On September 25, 2013, the United Nations Human Rights Council passed
resolution A/HRC/24/L.34, requesting a report to guide a panel discussion at the
twenty-sixth session, on the challenges, achievements, best practices, and
implementation gaps for preventing and eliminating child marriage.
1. Decides to convene , at its twenty - sixth session , a panel discussion on
preventing and eliminating child, early and forced marriage, with a particular focus on
challenges, achievements, best practices and implement station gaps , and requests the
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to liaise with
States, relevant United Nations agencies , funds and programmers, relevant special
procedures, civil society, including relevant children and youth organizations, and
national human rights institutions, with a view to ensuring their participation and also
requests the Office of the High Commissioner to prepare a summary report on the
panel discussion;
2. Requests the Office of the High Commissioner to prepare a report, in
consultation with States, United Nations agencies, funds and programs, civil society
and other relevant stakeholders, on preventing and eliminating child, early and forced
marriage, with a particular focus on challenges, achievements, best practices and
implementation gaps , to be submitted to the Human Rights Council prior to its
twenty - sixth session , and to guide the panel discussion.
2014 -- Girls Not Brides
The UN Resolution on Child, Early and Forced Marriage was adopted on 21
November, 2014 with the broad-based, cross-regional co-sponsorship of 116
countries. It was introduced and led by the Governments of Canada and Zambia. It
builds on last year's resolutions in the General Assembly and Human Rights Council,
which were procedural resolutions calling for reports and further consideration of the
issue. UN resolutions are always important in setting global norms, so this is a firm
statement from the international community that child marriage will not if we're to
ensure equality and reduce global poverty.

Girls Not Brides: The Global Partnership to End Child Marriage welcomes this
historic UN resolution. The resolution demonstrates the broad international consensus
that urgent action is needed to end child marriage, a practice that hold back 15 million
girls a year, or about 41,000 a day, denying them fundamental rights and undermining
their future. If there is no reduction in child marriage, 1.2 billion girls will marry as
children by 2050 equivalent to the entire population of India.
More importantly, it's the first time that countries have agreed on the steps that
they and partners in international organizations and civil society should be taking
to address the problem, including:
1.Enact, enforce and uphold laws and policies to end the practice;
2.Develop and implement holistic, comprehensive and coordinated responses and
strategies in cooperation with stakeholders, including civil society; and
3.Promote and protect the human rights of all women and girls, including their
right to education and to have control over and decide freely and responsibly on
matters related to their sexuality.
The resolution also encourages continued UN action on the issue and specifically
recognizes the need to include clear commitments to child, early and forced marriage
in the Post-2015 Development Agenda.
2015 -- United Nations Human Rights Council Adopts Resolution on Child, Early and
Forced Marriage during its 29th session
Parliamentarians for Global Action (PGA) commend the United Nations Human
Rights Council for its recent adoption of a Resolution on Child, Early and Forced
Marriage during its 29th session. Co-sponsored by 88 states, the resolution passed
unanimously on July 2, 2015.
New York, 9 July 2015 Parliamentarians for Global Action (PGA) commends
the United Nations Human Rights Councils recent Resolution on Child Marriage
which reaffirms resolutions 24/23 from September 2013 and General Assembly
resolution 69/156 from December 2014, as well as states responsibility under
international law, including the Convention to End Discrimination Against Women
(CEDAW) and the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). These legal
instruments call on states to act in accordance with international human rights
obligations to prevent and eliminate this harmful practice.

Questions must be answered

1. How can we prevent and eliminate child, early and forced marriage?
2. How to enforce existing laws against child marriage, especially when girls at risk
of child marriage, or who are married, seeking protection and justice?
3. What services needs to be provided by governments in order to ensure child brides'
rights in short and long term?
4. How can we break cultural practices that violates women rights?

Reference
http://www.girlsnotbrides.org/
http://www.unfpa.org/child-marriage
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/1206979.stm
http://www.icrw.org/issues/child-marriage/

IMUN 2017
The United Nations Children's Fund
(UNICEF)

Topic B:
Children in Conflict Areas

A. Overview
War violates every right of a child - the right to live and the right to be
nurtured and respected with family, said Grace Machel, the widow of
formerSouth African president NelsonMandela and the wife of Mozambican
presidentSamora Machel, in 1996.
Children are among the most vulnerable victims in armed conflicts, whose
rights are often sacrificed. Armed conflict affects their lives in many ways,
and even though they arent killed or injured, they can be internally
displaced, orphaned, raped and left with deep emotional scars and trauma
from direct exposure to violence or from dislocation, poverty, or the loss of
loved ones.
According to the report from United Nations Children Fund, globally, an
estimated 230 million children live in countries and areas affected by armed
conflicts. Nevertheless, nearly 15 million children are caught up in the
violent conflicts currently affecting Central African Republic, Iraq, South
Sudan, the State of Palestine, Syria and Ukraine.
Over the last ten years, 2 million children have been killed in armed
conflict. Over 6 million children have been seriously injured or permanently
disabled. In many conflict-ridden countries, peacekeeping missions are the
largest actor on the ground and their contribution is vital to protecting
children. It is apparent that armed conflict not only leads to violations of
childrens rights but in many contexts hampers the development progress
and childrens opportunities. United Nations International Children's
Emergency Fund has to contemplate how to satisfy the childrens basic
needs and ensure them a safe upbringing.
B. History of the Problem
Conflicts or wars between or within nations has being always inevitable.
The reasons that lead to armed conflicts are complicated and multiple, such
as the divergent interest and values of politic, races, military, history,
culture, civilization, religious, economic, secession and even terrorism.
Nevertheless, children didnt start the conflicts, but they fall victims to
the armed conflicts innocently and helplessly.
C. Current Situation
According to The United Nations recent statistics, over 1 billion children
living in countries affected by conflict, including 250 million are under five

years old in 2015. Many children are among the civilian casualties of war
and approximate 9.9 million children are refugees.
Children affected by armed conflict can be orphaned, subjected to sexual
abuse and violence, and deprived of their basic rights during or aftermath of
conflicts. Moreover, long-term repercussions may occur after children having
traumatizing experience, which will led to far-reaching negative
consequences for their future, such as physical and emotional trauma that is
hard to recover and come through. They are also the most vulnerable group
facing the violation of their rights without any ability to resist.
1. Children Rights Violation
A child, a teacher, a pen, can change the world, said Malala Yousafzaion
on the Nobel Peace prize ceremony, arousing people awareness of girls
right to receive education around the world. However, not every child is as
lucky as Malala, who has chance to stand up and express their voice. Due to
the destruction affected by the conflicts, the fundamental rights of children
in conflict areas are also threatened, such as education and health. In terms
of education, its estimated by UNESCO that 34 million children are out of
school in conflict-affected countries in 2015. Children earning can be
disrupted because of the attack aimed at schools, teachers, or even
children themselves.
Besides, children suffer from malnutrition and die from preventable or
curable diseases in conflict situations because their parents lose their
livelihoods owing to the conflicts destruction and can afford to raise them
up.
Just as what Malala, who sticks to fight for children rights in conflictridden areas and strive to reach the ideal of gender equality, said, When
the whole world is silent, even one voice becomes powerful. Its time for
UNICEF to vocalize for children to stop the infringement of children rights.
2. Children Recruitment
Children are often recruited, kidnapped or forced into joining combat
forces by armed groups, as combatants or intelligence sources, or for sexual
exploitation and forced labor. Its hard to estimate exactly number of child
soldiers, but it is likely to reach up to the hundreds of thousands. These
children lose their childhood with higher risk of being killed or permanent
injured. In addition, after experiencing or witnessing violence during

conflict, its likely to leave physical and mental trauma on children, led to
far-reaching negative consequences in their future.
Furthermore, children, especially girls, usually fall victims to sexual
violence in conflict zones, including exploitation and abuse. Some are
abducted and forced to become sexual slavery by militias or rebel groups,
and some are forced to prostitution because of poverty, hunger and
insecurity generated by conflicts. Particularly those who are separated and
displaced from their family or community are more vulnerable to sexual
violence or exploitation. Whats worse, the breakdown of social order and
the rampancy of sexual violence lead to HIV transmission.
3. Explosive Remnants left over by Conflicts
Even after the conflicts are over, safe living children are still threaten by
what leaves behind. It is explosive remnants left over by conflicts that kill
and maim thousands of children every year. The abandoned explosives and
weapons, landmines and unexploded ordnance are deadly to children who
have less understanding of the signs marking minefields. They often explode
the explosive remnants unconsciously, leaving permanent harm.
4. Refugee and Internally Displaced Children
In the last decade, 20 million children have been forced by conflict or
human rights violations to leave their homes. Children are at risk of being
orphaned or separated from their families when they flee away from battle
zones or attack.
These children are alienated from support system and suffered from
discrimination. Some of them become refugees and others become
internally displaced children. The internally displaced children have no
identity recognition; therefore, they are driven across national borders and
are viewed as interference by national governments. Although there are
specialized camps to shelter internally displaced children, the condition of
shelters are overcrowding, and the application of the rules are weak. The
specialized camps are not well-managed, becoming the hazard places for
children. In addition, unlike refugees, internally displaced children are not
protected by international laws. Therefore, internally displaced children
face much more challenges than refugee. The number of internally
displaced children rises steadily which become a serious problem needed to
be solved.

Fortunately, the children in conflict areas are not left in complete

desperation. United Nations Peacekeeping Troops has carried out a series
of missions targeted at specific conflicts areas, which the results to children
protection are outstanding in many conflict areas. Besides, it also set up the
Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) with organized framework
of kinds of departed affairs, for example, their four main offices: Office of
Operations, Office of the Rule of Law and Security Institutions, Office of
Military Affairs, and Policy Evaluation and Training Division are in charge of
different responsibilities. United Nations Peacekeeping and the Department
of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) has been undergoing several work to
promote children rights practically, having long-term and short-term
programs and getting further advancement.
D. Case Study
1. Industrialized countries
The national Committees of UNICEF advocate, educate and raise money
for the critical actions that improve children's lives in order to achieve child
gender equality, reduce child deaths worldwide, ensure children's right to
education, and raise food to prevent food crisis, etc. In these 34
industrialized countries, they work with UNICEF to give a voice to children
and their concerns, including Australia, Austria, Canada, Denmark, Finland,
France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Japan, Norway, Switzerland, United Kingdom
and USA, etc.
2. Eastern and Southern Africa
The challenges faced in these region, including Angola, Comoros, Eritrea,
Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda,
Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Republic of, Tanzania and United
Republic of Uganda, etc. are as varied as its history. Ethnic conflict, weak
economies, health crises, and fragile governments dramatically hinder
sustainable economic and political development in Africa's Horn and Great
Lakes regions in eastern Africa. Besides, although a wave of democratic
transitions in Southern Africa has helped decrease the likelihood of largescale civil war and cross-border conflict, the use or threat of violence as a
political strategy continues, especially prior to elections.
The region remains vulnerable due to upheaval, caused by conflicts
including health, demographic, social, environmental, economic, and
political factors; therefore, this is the region where UNICEF emphasis on
working with communities to advance the rights of every child.

3. West and Central Africa

Child survival is among primary concerns in the region, including Burkina
Faso, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Democratic Republic of the
Congo, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Sao Tome and
Principe, etc. By fostering respect for the rights of children, whether in
peace or in war, many national organizations help ensure that children live
and prosper. Countries in this region are faced with internal and external
pressures threatening the countrys future, due to the political instability,
economic problems and social tremendous transition.
Take the Central African Republic (CAR) for example, the previous regime
with bad governance inherited from former regimes has led to the collapse
of the state, further increased casualty which caused by both authorities
and armed groups.
4. Middle East and North Africa
In this region, Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq,
Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, State
of Palestine, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates,
Yemen are included. The main factors that led to conflicts are their
complicated historic background and animosity between Arab and Jew. Take
Middle East War for example, economic benefit, political transition, and the
different belief of religious sectarianSunni and Shia give rise to the
conflicts.
Worst of all, terrorist groups are active and numerous, for example, alQaeda and ISIS are notorious of its violent deeds, which would led to
conflicts that harm childrens living chances and every aspects of their
rights inevitably. Hence, UNICEF helps many facets of the lives of children,
advocated for and help advance their rights to health, education, equality
and protection.
.
5. Iraq and Syria
According to the statistics of UNICEF in 2015, approximate 14 million
children across the region are now suffering from the escalating conflict
sweeping Syria and much of Iraq during the five years of conflicts in Syria.
Among these 14 million children, the situation of more than 5.6 million
children inside the country remains the most helpless. That includes up to 2
million children who are living in areas of the country largely cut off from
humanitarian assistance due to fighting or other factors. Some 2.6 million
Syrian children are still out of school. Some Syrian children are living as
refugees in Lebanon, Turkey, Jordan and other countries, being lack of
services like education and health.

Meanwhile, the increasingly interlinked crisis gripping Iraq has forced

more than 2.8 million children from their homes, and left many trapped in
areas controlled by armed groups.
6. Arab Spring
Since Arab Spring occurred in the end of 2010, Middle East and North
Africa regions have drawn attentions from international society because of
domestic events. Some nations in this area have leaders who stay in office
for a very long time, such as Libya and Egypt, while some nations suffer
from slow economic development like Algeria. Therefore, peoples
inspiration of democratic consciousness and the complex political and
economic determinants give rise to demonstrations, armed protests, and
internal conflicts in the region. The number of casualties in this region
reach up to 250 thousands, with many children and students among them.
7. South Asia
South Asia is made up of several countries, which are Afghanistan,
Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka are in
the region of South Asia. In this cultural-diverse region, each country has
their own strong local traditions of social participation. Therefore, UNICEF
draw on different design and carry out programs adapted to local conditions
that help communities nurture their children and allow them to flourish.
Take Afghanistan for example. Afghanistans Insurgency can be tracked
back to 2001, which is the contest between International Security Assistance
Force (ISAF), founded by NATO after USA start to send troops in Afghanistan
to counter al-Qaeda organization and the Taliban in Afghanistan.
Afghanistans Insurgency has been viewed as retaliation for the September
11 incident and also considered as the beginning of counter terrorism. In the
end of 2014, with withdrawals of international soldiers and the USA support,
the war in Afghanistan entered a new phase It now is increasingly a
conflict between the insurgents and the Afghan National Security Forces
(ANSF). In addition, historical feuds, unresolved grievances, ethnic tensions,
clashes among pro-government actors and tension between cross-border
relations in some region, are all the factors that cause conflicts, making
children rights exposed to high risk of violation.
Pakistan is also facing the threat of terrorism, which may result in
regional conflicts, and depriving the chances for children to live safe and
sound. Besides, because of the ingrained tradition concepts and religious
customs, women has lower status than men, even fallen victims of violence
and discrimination. Thus, sometimes, girls are forced to be deprived of the
number of their fundamental rights, such as education.

8. Latin America and Caribbean??

In Central and South America, the living security is in turmoil. Unequal
distribution of resources, human trafficking, drug smuggling, gang
operations and corruption of government personal led to unstable political
situation.
Venezuela had military cooperation with Russia and China actively. On
the other hand, Colombia also faced internal conflicts in past few years;
however, both sides are entering the final phase of peace talks between the
government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). To
conclude, military cooperation above-mentioned and internal civil wars may
stir up, posing threat to peace and violating their rights, particularly
children.
E. Past UN Actions
United Nations Peacekeeping missions is the most influential
implement of the United Nation on the ground to deal with the variety of
the problems in conflict-devastated area, which also play a crucial role in
providing assistance to children in conflict areas. Since 1999, the Security
Council has first addressed the issue of protecting childrens rights in
conflict. Later during 2001, this issue has been included in the mandates of
peacekeeping operations, continually advocating for legislative reform and
release thousands of child soldiers until now.
1.1 Department of Peacekeeping Operations
Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) was formally
established in 1992 in United Nations, which can be traced back to its roots
in 1948 with the enforcement of the first UN peacekeeping operations.
Therefore, DPKO is mainly in charge of providing political and executive
direction to UN Peacekeeping operations around the world, keeping contact
with the Security Council, troop and financial contributors, and parties to
the conflict, as the implemented department of Security Council mandates.
In addition, the department plays a vital role on integrating the efforts
of UN, governmental and non-governmental entities in the context of
peacekeeping operations. Until now, peacekeeping operations, which DPKO
has been responsible to implement, had already provided aids to many
conflict areas around the world. Take United Nations Interim Administration
Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) for example, this mission provided an interim
administration for Kosovo under which the people of Kosovo could enjoy
substantial autonomy and after the declaration of independence by the

Kosovo authorities, it promoted security, stability and respect for human

rights in Kosovo.
DPKO also devoted to guide and support military, police, main action
and other relevant issues, and other UN political and peace-building
missions.
1.2 UN peacekeeping
UN peacekeeping has been ongoing several concrete actions,
collaborated with Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) and other
related organizations, to protect childrens rights. Their works can be
separated into a range of aspects detailed below:
1.

Deployment of Child Protection Advisers

The department of UN peacekeeping deploys the Child Protection
Advisers in countries where children have the severest impact on their
protection concerns, including abductions, military recruitment, killing and
maiming. Child protection advisers play a key role in establishing dialogue
with perpetrators to end the gravest violations against children. Besides,
they are sent to conflict area to help the mission fulfill the child protection
mandate. They work in several Peacekeeping operations, cooperating with
United Nations Children Fund, Peacekeeping military, UN Police, Judicial
Affairs Officers, etc. Since 2001, the Department of Peacekeeping
Operations (DPKO) has deployed child protection advisers in Sierra Leone,
Burundi, Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Afghanistan, Cte
dIvoire, Liberia, Haiti and the Sudan, having considerable progress on
childrens right promotion and protection.
1.2.2 Mainstreaming child protection within the mission
All teams within a mission of Department of Peacekeeping Operations
have a responsibility to engage in protecting children. Child Protection
Advisers work with other sections such as UN Police, Human Rights, Judicial
Affairs and the military, to ensure they consider children as central mission
in their work.
1.2.3 Monitoring and Reporting
UN peacekeeping integrate information of conflict areas and turn it
into reports, summited to the Security Council, which can exert pressure on
armed groups, and authorize UN Peacekeeping to launch protective troop to
do preventive action.

1.2.4 Negotiating with armed groups

UN peacekeeping missions negotiate with armed groups to reduce the harm
to children caused by conflicts and stop violations of children rights.
Currently, theirs negotiate action plans were adopted in South Sudan and
the DR Congo.
1.2.5 Advocacy
In the implementation of UN peacekeeping operation, they elect The
Head of a Peacekeeping Missions, which is the highest UN authority in the
country and has unique leverage relation with the local government to
advocate for the concerns of children. Darfur is a successful example, The
Head of a Peacekeeping Missions help to advocate to abolish children
soldiers penalty.
1.2.6 Capacity building
Besides protecting civilians, facilitating humanitarian aid and helping
political process, UN peacekeeping also work with national counterparts to
build up or strengthen their ability to cope with child protection concern.
For example, in South Sudan, Sudan People's Liberation Army(SPLA)
cooperate with UN peacekeeping missions in Sudan (UNMISS) co-located a
child protection officer to support the implementation of the action plan to
end the recruitment of children.
1.2.7 Advocating of Legal Reform
UN peacekeeping promotes the creation of new laws to protect
children, whether domestic or international legal. In 2009 and 2011, the
Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) also legislated two
strategies, respectively aimed at mainstreaming the protection, rights and
well-being of children affected by armed conflict and focused on prohibiting
of child labor in UN Peacekeeping Operations.
In addition, in response to the strong recommendation of UN peacekeeping,
since 1999 to 2014, UN Security Council had passed ten resolutions. In these
resolutions, United Nations strongly condemns violations against
international laws exerted on children including military recruitment, killing
and maiming, rape and other sexual violence, abductions, attacks against
schools or hospitals, etc. It also encourages pertinent regional and subregional organizations and arrangements to help address the widespread
impact of armed conflict on children and invites them to continue the
mainstreaming of child protection into their policies, programs, training,
mission planning, and the development and expansion of guidelines.
Besides, United Nations decides to continue the inclusion of specific

provisions for the protection of children in the mandates of all relevant

United Nations peacekeeping operations and political missions, encouraging
the Department of Peacekeeping Operations and Department of
Peacekeeping Advisors to take into account child protection when briefing
the Council on country-specific situations.
1.2.8 Awareness Raising
By using radio stations, events and campaigns, UN peacekeeping raise
people awareness to face squarely of child protection issues and to
promote ways to prevent violations against children in conflict.
1.2.9 Training
UN peacekeeping also provide rigorous training to all of the Child Protection
Advisers to ensure mission training, so that every peacekeeper has the
knowledge and skills to protect children.
1.3 The Universal Children's Day
Apart from what UN Peacekeeping has been working on protecting
children rights, several Resolution that UN Security Council has passed and
policies UN Peacekeeping Operation has been carrying out, UN also initiated
the Universal Children's Day, marked on 20 November, which also the date of
the Assembly adopted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child in 1959, and
the Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1989. The Universal Children's
Day is to shed light on the problems that there are still lots of children
growing up in wars are suffering, and to reaffirm United Nations
commitment to stand up for children rights and to take action firmly and
imperatively.
On the Universal Children's Day, the officials engage in children
protection in conflict areas, such as Assistant Secretary-General and Military
Adviser of the United Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations
deliver lectures, turned it into podcast. The podcasts contents included
their personal encounters with children in conflict-ridden areas, the
successes and challenges in introducing child protection in the daily work,
etc.
F. Question a Resolution Must Answer
1. How can we define the difference between refugee and internally
displaced children? And how can the United Nations Children Fund find
out ways to help and promote the rights of both refugee children and
internally displaced children?

2. Conflicts and wars are hard to completely put it an end. With an eye to
providing children a safe and sound childhood, what can UNICEF do
before, during, and after the wars breakout to ensure children are
protected?
3. Until now, Department of Peacekeeping Operations, UN peacekeeping
and other related organizations and bodies had programmed and has
being conducting several work on protecting children rights in conflict
areas. What else can UNICEF do for children in conflicts and how can we
improve the deficiency of children protecting programs already carrying
out on the ground?
Reference
http://www.unicef.org/sowc05/english/conflictissue.html
http://ec.europa.eu/echo/files/aid/countries/factsheets/thematic/
children_conflict_en.pdf
http://www.child-soldier.org/
http://www.un.org/en/peacekeeping/issues/children/
http://www.un.org/en/peacekeeping/about/dpko/
http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/northafrica.html
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