On the Occasion of the International Day of Peace
Calling for the Ethical Imperative to Stand Up for Children in War
High Level Meeting, UNHCR.
Organized by Arigatou International, UNHCR, World Council of Churches, OHCHR, Latter-day Saint Charities, Colombia, Malta among others
Statement by Mr Tormod C. ENDRESEN, Ambassador - Permanent Representative to the UN and other International Organizations Norway.
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22 September 2025
Many thanks to Arigatou and the co-organisers for this timely event, and to all of you in this room who in different ways are involved in the protection of children.
In Geneva and elsewhere, we sometimes disagree on normative questions. Not today. If you ask anyone, anywhere, across faiths and geographies – should children suffer and die from armed conflict? - the answer is a resounding NO. From a legal perspective, from a moral perspective, from a religious perspective, this is a clear cut issue.
All the more disturbing, therefore, that we are – according to the latest Secretary General’s report on children and armed conflict looking at a record 25 percent surge in grave violations from the previous year. The downward spiral towards lawlessness in many conflicts takes a special toll on the most vulnerable. We are – in other words – confronted with a surge in violations that we would all condemn, – but that still take place because there is a lack of political will with warring parties – states and non-state actors alike - to protect children – and to refrain from using them as soldiers.
This is unacceptable in so many ways. Apart from the individual suffering, it is also something that tears up the social fabric, the resilience in so many communities – and something that makes the path to peace and stability in post-conflict situations so much more difficult, as those who should be building the peace are more likely to be locked in a cycle of violence than to be building blocks for peace.
So, to the interesting question – what can we do?
As the world’s human rights and humanitarian capital – and I would argue also prevention capital – Geneva provides a number of opportunities that can help generate political will. Opportunities to align the moral imperative with real accountability – frankly speaking opportunities to shame those responsible.
Human Rights Council sessions and UPR hearings are tools for presenting facts and arguments, for insisting that States fulfill their obligations.
This includes the CRC and its Optional Protocols. We also need to use these opportunities to encourage Member States to endorse and implement practical instruments that can strengthen child protection, such as the Safe Schools Declaration and the EWIPA - Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas Declaration.
In light of ongoing budget cuts and UN reforms, there is a risk that children are deprioritized. As the global funding crisis is putting the lives of millions of children at even greater risk, we need to emphasise the value of the mechanisms that form the backbone of the efforts to end and prevent violations against children and to hold perpetrators accountable.
This brings me to your second question.
Accountability:
We need to continue to call for full accountability for all grave violations through national and international justice mechanisms, such as the International Criminal Court.
We also need to continue strong political and financial support to the Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism, which is the core of the CAAC-mandate.
NGOs and civil society organizations have to play key roles in the continued efforts, by providing expertise, facilitating the meaningful participation of children and advocating for child rights-based approaches to policy and practice.
A special mention of Geneva Call and their 25 years of solid efforts for promoting respect for IHL with non-state actors.
We also need to recognize the crucial link between child protection and justice, supporting efforts like Justice Rapid Response to ensure accountability for crimes committed against children in conflict.
Supporting partners involved in such efforts is a continued Norwegian priority. In a time when conflicts are increasing and becoming more complex, it is essential that the international community does not pull back. That’s why Norway is prioritizing child protection in the 2025 humanitarian aid budget.
Going forward, we must not forget the increasingly important role of prevention, and the role of accountability in doing so. We cannot afford to let the inability to find political solutions and the failure to protect civilians during armed conflicts destroy the lives and futures of children.
Thank you.