The regional conference on preventing grave violations against children in armed conflicts kicked off virtually here on Sunday, in coordination with the League of Arab States and the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict. Qatar is hosting the event as president of the 42nd meeting of the Council of Arab Ministers of Social Affairs.

Bringing together Arab Ministers of Social Affairs, the conference is scheduled to discuss the best regional practices for preventing grave violations against children in armed conflicts and highlight ways to boost regional cooperation.

Addressing the conference, Minister of Social Development and Family HE Maryam bint Ali bin Nasser Al Misnad said, “The conference aims to discuss our governments’ views and ideas that help us crystalise a unified international and Arab position on the issue of preventing grave violations against children in armed conflicts.”

The minister added that the world is facing a complex and deep crisis that threatens the future of childhood amid the rising intensity of armed conflicts, and the absence of peaceful solutions to them, prompting those in charge of humanitarian and development work to harness further efforts and accelerate their coordination to limit the exacerbating humanitarian situation in countries suffering from the scourge of armed conflict, to impose peaceful dialogue and to define guarantees for the protection of children and human rights during conflicts.

Children remain the group most affected by the absence of clear mechanisms to protect them during wars and conflicts, specifically those from poverty-stricken spots, including refugees and displaced persons, as the groups that suffer the greatest share of gross violations and exploitation, she said.

The minister highlighted that the Middle East showed 79 percent of violations against children due to armed conflict, with 93,000 children having been recruited in armed conflicts and more than 25,000 children kidnapped by armed men between 2005 and 2020. The same period also documented 14,000 cases of child rape or forced marriage at the hands of the parties to the conflict, she highlighted.

This complex situation requires redoubled efforts and cooperation among all countries of the world, including the Arab countries, to protect children from being exploited, especially in armed conflicts, she said.

The minister stressed that Qatar is always ready to coordinate and cooperate with Arab countries and the world to support people suffering from armed conflicts, including the Sudanese people.

In similar statement, Arab League’s Assistant Secretary General and head of social affairs sector Ambassador HE Dr. Haifa Abu Ghazaleh said the Arab League prioritises the issue of preventing heinous violations against children in armed conflict to achieve the best interest for children, adding that the Arab Childhood Committee periodically follows up on this issue.

Among the recommendations, she said, is to explore ways to support Palestinian children and reduce the consequences of violence being committed by the Israeli occupation forces, adding that the Palestinian children are facing major threats against their fundamental rights, in addition to grave violations, such as killing, arbitrary detention and forced displacement.

Ambassador Dr Haifa Abu Ghazaleh stated that protecting Palestinian children is imperative and urgent, stressing that international community must studiously work to stop these violations and ensure their rights and safety, in addition to holding perpetrators of these violations responsible and accountable.

Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, Virginia Gamba stressed the necessary need to overcome risks that threaten children in armed conflict zones.

Assistant Undersecretary for Family Affairs at the MSDF HE Sheikha Sheikha bint Jassim Al-Thani presented a paper in which she pointed to the support provided by Qatar to the international community’s efforts in promoting and protecting children’s rights and providing security, development and essential services to them in various fields.