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X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://womensinternationalforum.org/
X-WR-CALNAME:Women's International Forum
X-WR-CALDESC:Empowering Global Dialogue & Leadership
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BEGIN:VEVENT
CLASS:PUBLIC
UID:MEC-9978b7063e297d84bb2ac8e46c1c845f@womensinternationalforum.org
DTSTART:20260226T000000Z
DTEND:20260227T000000Z
DTSTAMP:20260125T123800Z
CREATED:20260125
LAST-MODIFIED:20260313
PRIORITY:5
SEQUENCE:12
TRANSP:OPAQUE
SUMMARY:Protecting Children From Conflict: A Shared Responsibility
DESCRIPTION:Over the past decades, the international community has made clear commitments to protect children affected by armed conflict. These commitments are grounded in international law, reinforced through United Nations mechanisms, and reaffirmed year after year in global forums. Yet the lived reality for millions of children tells a far more troubling story. Recent United Nations reporting illustrates the scale and urgency of the challenge. In 2024, the UN verified 41,370 grave violations against children, the highest number recorded since the Children and Armed Conflict mandate began and a 25 percent increase compared to the previous year.\nThe report documents 22,495 children affected, with particularly sharp rises in attacks on schools and in rape and other forms of sexual violence. These figures underscore a growing gap between global commitments and effective protection on the ground.\nAcross conflict-affected regions, children face risks that extend well beyond the battlefield. Armed violence disrupts education, displaces families, restricts humanitarian access, and leaves lasting physical and psychological scars. The UN’s Children and Armed Conflict agenda identifies six grave violations against children: killing and maiming, recruitment and use, rape and other forms of sexual violence, abduction, attacks on schools and hospitals, and denial of humanitarian access. These violations are not isolated incidents. They are warning signs of how quickly childhood can be stripped away when protection is not treated as a priority.\nAt the same time, experience shows that harm is not inevitable. Where leadership is present, accountability is pursued, and protection is prioritized, progress is possible. The Secretary-General has urged Member States to reinforce their commitment to child protection, including through the Prove It Matters campaign, which emphasizes the importance of turning evidence and reporting into concrete action and measurable impact.\nThe Discussion: \nBuilding on WIF’s tradition of examining the space between intention and impact, this discussion will explore how global commitments translate into real protection for children affected by war.Anchored by Ms. Vanessa Frazier, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, the panel will feature the specialized insights of Ms. Bethany Ellis on NGO monitoring and advocacy, and Dr. Lawrence Aber on the psychological and developmental impact of conflict on children. Together, they will explore where responsibility, leadership, and sustained attention remain essential to closing the gap between reporting and concrete action.\nObjectives: \n\nProvide a forum for informed exchange on the protection of children affected by armed conflict, drawing on global experience and current realities.\nExamine implementation of international commitments and identify where gaps between intention and outcome persist.\nOffer insight into the mandate of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, alongside the critical roles of civil society and academic research.\nHighlight key trends and concerns emerging from recent United Nations reporting on children and armed conflict.\nDiscuss the role of leadership, accountability, and cooperation in preventing the six grave violations against children.\nExplore the importance of education, humanitarian access, and long-term recovery in safeguarding the well-being of children affected by war.\nEncourage constructive reflection on the shared responsibility of Member States, institutions, and individuals in strengthening the protection of children in conflict situations.\n\n
URL:https://womensinternationalforum.org/events/protecting-children-from-conflict-a-shared-responsibility/
CATEGORIES:Sep 2025 - Jun 2026
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://womensinternationalforum.org/wp-content/uploads/WIF25FEB2026_Protecting-Children-from-Conflict.png
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