Who: Leila Zerrougui, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed conflict
What: Mission to Afghanistan
When: 13-17 February 2016
Where: Kabul, field locations

New York – The Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed conflict, Leila Zerrougui, will travel to Afghanistan from 13 to 17 February to assess the situation of children affected by armed conflict and engage with authorities and partners on improving their protection.

The conflict in Afghanistan has a devastating impact on children and the United Nations continues to record high levels of child casualties.

Afghanistan is one of seven countries involved in the campaign Children, Not Soldiers. In 2011, the Government signed an Action Plan with the United Nations to end and prevent the recruitment and use of children in its national security forces and a road map to compliance in August 2014.

During her mission, the Special Representative will meet Afghan authorities, the diplomatic community as well as UN and NGO partners to assess progress and challenges regarding the protection of children and to ensure the full implementation of the Action Plan.

Ms. Zerrougui is also planning to travel in the country to meet children and families affected by the conflict.

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For details of press encounters and interview opportunities during the mission, please contact:
Stephanie Tremblay, 
Communications, Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, Tel: +1 212 963 8285, Mobile: +1 917 288 5791 (mobile), 
tremblay@un.org