Chinese envoy calls for tackling root cause of armed conflict to protect children

A Chinese envoy to the United Nations said on Thursday that the best way to protect children in conflicts is to prevent, reduce and resolve conflicts at their root.

Speaking at the Security Council during an open debate on children and armed conflict, Liu Jieyi, China's permanent representative to the UN, said that "the best way to protect children in conflicts is to prevent, reduce and resolve conflicts at their root. This is far more meaningful than remedial measures after the irruption of conflicts."

The Security Council bears the primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security. The council should strengthen preventive diplomacy, use more measures provided for in chapter six of the UN charter, such as mediation, good offices, dialogue and negotiation, to support and encourage parties to resolve the differences peacefully and eliminate the root cause of this problem, said Liu.

The key to the implementation of the council resolutions and the enforcement of various programs and plans aimed at protecting the children lies in the cooperation and efforts of the countries concerned, said Liu.

"The international community should give full play to leadership role of the government concerned and respect those countries' sovereignty while providing assistance and support and concretely strengthen those countries' capacity-building," said Liu.

In terms of international cooperation, Liu said efforts should be made to adopt a comprehensive strategy and form an international synergy for the protection of children.

"In post-conflict rebuilding efforts, comprehensive measures should be taken to ensure the child victims of armed conflicts be smoothly reintegrated into the society and provide a favorable security and social environment for the health and growth of children," said Liu.

China stands ready to work with the international community to fully safeguard international peace and security, jointly improve the situation of children in armed conflict and prevent them from suffering from wars and conflicts and foster a harmonious and secure environment for the health and growth of the children, according to Liu.

In a unanimously adopted resolution on Thursday, the 15-member Security Council also condemned killing, maiming, rape, abductions and attacks against children in situations of armed conflict, and called on relevant parties to take special measures to protect children. Endite