President,

I welcome Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis of Greece presiding over this meeting. I thank Special Representative Frazier, Executive Director Russell, Special Envoy Jagne, and Director Ellis for their briefings.

Thirty years ago, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution recommending that the Secretary-General appoint a Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict. Over the past 30 years, the mandate on children and armed conflict has continued to be enriched, and the UN’s child protection mechanism has seen constant improvement. Meanwhile, conflict continues to inflict severe harm on children. According to the Secretary-General’s annual report on children and armed conflict, the number of children affected by violations in conflict in 2025 hit a record high since the establishment of the mandate. Children are the future and hope of the world, and it is incumbent upon all parties to protect them. I wish to make four points.

First, we must end hostilities and promote peace to keep children out of harm’s way. The most direct and effective way of protecting children is to end conflict and violence as soon as possible. China urges all parties to conflicts to abide by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, cease hostilities, strictly comply with their obligations under international law and international humanitarian law, and refrain from attacking civilians and civilian facilities, such as children and schools. All parties should follow the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative, and sustainable security, properly address differences through dialogue and consultation, and promote political settlement of hotspot issues. We must step up humanitarian support and improve access to conflict-affected areas, to ensure that children receive the necessary assistance and psychological support in a timely manner.

Second, we must improve the mechanisms and strengthen accountability. Children in the occupied Palestinian territories, Haiti, and elsewhere live on the front line of conflict and violence and have long suffered grave violations and threats. Generation after generation have been robbed of a happy childhood. China supports the Security Council in resorting to necessary tools to ensure strict accountability for wanton abuses of children. We support Special Representative Frazier in fulfilling her mandate and duties, call for stronger monitoring and reporting by the UN, support the Security Council Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict in the timely consideration of relevant country reports, and urge all parties to take effective steps to stop atrocities against children.

Third, we must empower children through development to enhance their well-being. Development is the fundamental solution to the root causes of conflict. We need to support the governments of the countries concerned in guaranteeing basic needs such as food, education, healthcare, and employment, and in improving the environment for children’s growth and development, so that children can break free from the shadow of war and the cycle of violence. We must prudently harness the potential of AI and other emerging technologies, stay people-centered and use them for good, safeguard the right to education of children in armed conflict, and strive to bridge the digital divide so that more countries in the Global South can benefit.

Fourth, we must stand by each other and increase input in Africa. China welcomes Ambassador Jainaba Jagne taking up her position as the first Special Envoy for Children Affected by Armed Conflict of the AU, and supports the UN in working closely with the AU to help countries in conflict strengthen their capacity building for child protection. In recent years, through the China-UN Peace and Development Fund, we have supported the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict in implementing child protection projects in Africa. The latest batch of projects focuses on regional cooperation, covers 11 countries in Central Africa, and has won broad support and recognition. We will continue to provide help to the best of our ability to developing countries, including those in Africa. China stands ready to work jointly with the international community to silence the guns and end violence, and to strengthen support and assistance, so that children all over the world can grow up healthy and strong in an environment of peace and stability, and create a better future.

Thank you, President.