Egypt calls to prevent violations against children affected by armed conflicts

CAIRO - 3 August 2019: Egypt called on all concerned parties to take the necessary measures to prevent violations against children whose are affected by armed conflicts as well as provide them the greatest protection.

This came during the UN Security Council's open debate held on Friday August 2 in New York, in which the Permanent Mission of Egypt to the United Nations participated.

Egypt's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Mohamed Idris expressed Egypt's deep concern over the report of the Secretary-General on the increasing number of cases of physical abuse against children, which reached more than 24,000 cases during 2018.

Idris added that children suffer more as a result of armed conflict, which deprives them of their right to life, physical integrity and mental health and deprives them of their social, cultural and educational rights.

He also expressed Egypt's support for all efforts to strengthen the protection of children and to end the violations committed during all conflicts, especially crimes committed by terrorist organizations in this regard.

He noted the great interest that Egypt attaches in conjunction with its current chairmanship of the African Union to enhance the capacity of the African continent in the field of the protection of civilians and the enforcement of international humanitarian law through many training courses and programs organized and hosted by Egypt in this field.

The open debate of the Security Council was held under the chairmanship of the Polish Minister of Foreign Affairs in conjunction with the start of the Polish Presidency of the Council in August 2019.

The meeting also witnessed briefings by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, the Executive Director of UNICEF and representatives of relevant civil society organizations.