Riyadh, 8 September 2026 - Under-Secretary-General Vanessa Frazier, the United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) for Children and Armed Conflict (CAAC), has concluded a two-day visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, where she held constructive discussions with Saudi Arabia’s government officials and other stakeholders on the protection and well-being of children affected by armed conflict at the global level. This was USG Frazier’s first visit to the Kingdom in her capacity as UN CAAC Special Representative.
The Special Representative expressed her appreciation to the Government of Saudi Arabia for the invitation and for its cooperation, facilitation and engagement throughout the visit. She further expressed the importance of strengthening its partnership with the Kingdom in support of children affected by armed conflict, in the spirit of the Kingdom’s 80-year-old partnership with the United Nations.
The discussions highlighted the importance of sustained engagement and practical cooperation to strengthen the protection, well-being and resilience of children affected by armed conflict, including through humanitarian action, recovery and support for essential services.
As the impact of armed conflict has increased, as noted in the last Secretary-General Annual Report on Children and Armed Conflict (S/2026/357), notably in the Middle East, the visit highlighted the importance of building partnerships to advocate for the rights of children, including those affected by armed conflict, and the importance of sustained practical engagement in favour of children, including to fulfill the Sustainable Development Goals and the UN Pact for the Future.
During her engagements, the Special Representative recognized the Kingdom’s longstanding humanitarian and development efforts and its contribution to supporting communities affected by conflict and crisis. She welcomed the opportunity to exchange views with Saudi counterparts and to deepen mutual understanding of child rights and protection priorities.
“Children affected by conflict and crisis remain among those most in need of protection and support. Ensuring their safety, well-being and access to essential services requires sustained commitment and cooperation from all of us,” said USG Frazier. “I greatly value the constructive exchange with our Saudi counterparts and look forward to continued dialogue and collaboration to advance our shared global commitment to protecting children and supporting their well-being,” she concluded.