Guyana has taken a leading role on the world stage, urging the international community to take decisive and coordinated action to protect children caught in the crossfire of armed conflict. The call comes amid alarming new data showing a dramatic surge in grave violations against children in war zones worldwide.
During the United Nations Security Council’s annual open debate on children and armed conflict, chaired by Guyana’s Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Vindhya Persaud, the government highlighted the urgent need for effective strategies to end and prevent atrocities such as child recruitment, killing and maiming, sexual violence, abductions, attacks on schools and hospitals, and the denial of humanitarian access. The latest Secretary-General’s report revealed a staggering 25 percent increase in grave violations against children in 2024—the highest number recorded since monitoring began—underscoring the scale and severity of the crisis.
Guyana, serving as Council president for June, circulated a concept note emphasizing the need to address the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, which has resulted in thousands of child casualties and long-term harm from explosive remnants of war. The government’s position is clear: children are not collateral damage and must never be used as soldiers or bargaining chips. Instead, they deserve safety, justice, and a future.
In a joint statement supported by 12 Council members, Guyana condemned all violations and abuses against children and called for accountability for perpetrators as a deterrent to future crimes. The statement also expressed strong support for the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, UNICEF, and other UN agencies working on child protection.
UNICEF and other international partners echoed Guyana’s call, urging all parties to conflict to respect international humanitarian law, sign and implement action plans with the United Nations, and release children from armed groups for reintegration. They pressed for an immediate halt to the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, expanded humanitarian access, and increased funding for child protection programs.
Despite progress—such as the release of over 200,000 children from armed groups since 1999 and the signing of dozens of action plans—the sharp rise in violations in recent years, driven by conflicts in Gaza, Myanmar, Sudan, Ukraine, and other hotspots, signals that more robust and coordinated global action is urgently needed.
Guyana’s leadership at the Security Council reflects a broader commitment to ensuring that the protection of children in armed conflict remains at the forefront of the international agenda, with a focus on prevention, accountability, and the delivery of life-saving humanitarian assistance.
