Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict: Strategic framework 2009-2012

Collaborative efforts over the last ten years between the Office of the SRSG/CAAC, UNICEF and other key United Nations entities, as well as United Nations Member States, regional organizations, NGOs and other civil society groups, have resulted in significant advances for the children and armed conflict agenda. These advances include increased global awareness of some of the issues concerning children affected by armed conflict; development of international norms and standards; strengthening legal protection for children; placing children and armed conflict on the international peace and security agenda through systematic engagement of the Security Council on this issue; and increased mainstreaming of children and armed conflict in the United Nations system and beyond. The broadening of the global circle of stakeholders and action on children and armed conflict through strategic and concerted advocacy has been critical in this process. 

Challenges, however, remain. These challenges call for innovative strategies and a renewed engagement by the international community. OSRSG/CAAC, in consultation with partners, hopes to keep the agenda alive and to take the lead in securing political and diplomatic engagement on all the issues that concern children in situations of armed conflict. To that end, OSRSG/CAAC presents this strategic framework, in line with paragraph 36 of the mandating resolution. The framework was drafted after year-long, wide-ranging consultations with our partners and Member States.