
On 7 August 2018 in Yambio in South Sudan, more than 100 children were released by two armed groups. Photo: UNICEF
In over 25 years, the implementation of the Children and Armed Conflict mandate has led to the release of over 180,000 children, the signing and implementation of hundreds of commitments including Action Plans as well as countless initiatives to improve the protection of boys and girls in times of war.
Reflecting on progress achieved and remaining challenges, the UN Security Council called on the Special Representative, together with relevant child protection actors, to compile comprehensive best practices on the implementation of the mandate, including a practical guidance on the integration of child protection issues in peace processes. The guidance was published in February 2020.
As a result, Special Representative Virginia Gamba created a lessons learned and best practices unit in her office that is compiling initiatives and work methods that proved successful to the protection of boys and girls.
Best practices and lessons learned from the field
South Sudan: Opposition Forces in Jonglei Receive Training from UNMISS to End Child Recruitment
By UNMISS, GIDEON SACKITEY “The children in this place are [...]
Afghanistan: Street Theatre in Kandahar Promotes the Rights of Children in Armed Conflict
KANDAHAR - The importance of protecting the rights and well-being of [...]
Building Peace: Protecting Children in Conflict
"The protection of children is a topic of universal resonance for [...]
Moving Towards an Era of Prevention for Children Affected by Armed Conflict
Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict presents her annual [...]
Protecting children in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Dee Brillenburg-Wurth talks about the protection of children to members of an armed group in eastern DR Congo. Copyrights: MONUSCO
Afghanistan: Film Festival on Impact of Armed Conflict on Children
An actor addresses the audience of a film festival on the impact of conflict on children in Herat, Afghanistan. Copyrights: UNAMA
Two Years of ‘Children, Not Soldiers’ Campaign Bring Tangible Progress in Afghanistan
On 16 February, the Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict and the Political Deputy Minister at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Hikmat Karzai, held a joint press conference in Kabul. ©UNAMA / Fardin Waezi
Afghanistan: Child Protection Units Keeping Children Away from National Security Forces
Ribbon-cutting ceremony for the opening of a new child protection unit in the Afghan National Police recruitment centre in Jalalabad. ©UNAMA
DR Congo: Statement by Leila Zerrougui on the Publication of Report on Recruitment of Girls by Armed Groups
The report “Invisible Survivors: Girls in Armed Groups in Democratic Republic [...]
Children, Not Soldiers: A Song to End the Recruitment of Children in DR Congo
As part of the national sensitization campaign on child soldiers [...]
The United Nations Working Together With the African Union To Protect Children in Armed Conflict
Joint Press Statement by the African Union, the SRSG for [...]