Source description last updated: 23 April 2020

In brief: The UN Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict is a UN institution that advocates for the protection and well-being of children affected by armed conflict.

Coverage on ecoi.net:

Press releases and country visit reports

Covered quarterly on ecoi.net, for countries of priorities A, B and C

Mission/Mandate/Objectives:

“The mandate of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict [SRSG-CAAC] was created by the [UN] General Assembly” in a resolution adopted in 1997 (Website of the SRSG-CAAC: About Us, undated)

“The role of the Special Representative [of the Secretary-General] for Children and Armed Conflict is to strengthen the protection of children affected by armed conflict, raise awareness, promote the collection of information about the plight of children affected by war and foster international cooperation to improve their protection. She reports yearly to the [UN] General Assembly and the [UN] Human Rights Council and raises challenges faced by children in war to political bodies, such as the UN Security Council, as well as relevant Governments to maintain a sense of urgency amongst key decision makers as well as to secure political and diplomatic engagement.” (Website of the SRSG-CAAC: About Us, undated)

The SRSG-CAAC’s work focuses on preventing and ending the following six types of grave violations: “Killing and maiming of children; Recruitment or use of children as soldiers; Sexual violence against children; Abduction of children; Attacks against schools or hospitals; Denial of humanitarian access for children.” (Website of the SRSG-CAAC: The Six Grave Violations, undated)

“In 2005, the Security Council established a Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism (MRM) to systematically monitor, document and report on violations committed against children in situations of concern around the world” (Website of the SRSG-CAAC: The Six Grave Violations, undated). “The purpose of the MRM is to provide for the systematic gathering of accurate, timely, objective and reliable information on [the] six grave violations committed against children in situations of armed conflict” mentioned above. Under this mechanism, “[t]eams on the ground collect information, respond to grave violations and engage in advocacy […]. […] It is important to note that the Office of the Special Representative does not have a field presence but promotes and supports the work of operational partners.” (Website of the SRSG-CAAC: Monitoring and Reporting on Grave Violations, undated)

Funding:

UN budget

Scope of reporting:

Geographic focus: countries where children are affected by armed conflict

Thematic focus: killing or maiming of children; recruitment or use of children by armed forces and groups; sexual violence against children; attacks against schools or hospitals; abduction of children; denial of humanitarian access for children

Methodology:

Press releases often summarise findings presented in reports of the UN Secretary-General on Children and Armed Conflict and render comments made by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict (see, for example, SRSG-CAAC: Abducted, Recruited, Forcibly Married, Detained: Children in Somalia Endured Staggering Levels of Grave Violations, 1 April 2020 and SRSG-CAAC: Children of Iraq Dramatically Impacted by ISIL’s Extreme Violence and Counter-Military Operations, 29 January 2020).

Reports on country visits of the SRSG-CAAC (last published in 2010) were based on information obtained during meetings of the Special Representative with stakeholders including members of government and senior officials from the security forces (see, for example, SRSG-CAAC: Visit of the Special Representative for Children & Armed Conflict to Afghanistan, February 2010).

Language of publication:

English

 

All links accessed 23 April 2020.