Statement by H.E. Ambassador YAMAZAKI Kazuyuki, Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations, at the United Nations Security Council Arria-formula meeting on Myanmar

 
I thank the United Kingdom for hosting this Arria-Formula meeting. I would also like to thank Ms. Elmi for the alarming briefing.
 
Children in Myanmar are displaced, lack enough nutrition, cannot go to school or access health services, and are at risk of being killed or maimed due to the escalation of the conflict. Hundreds of children are being recruited and used by the Myanmar Armed Forces and other armed groups. Life-saving humanitarian aid is not reaching them.

Last month in the Security Council, and today in this meeting, we heard that children in Myanmar are among the most vulnerable to the dangers of mine contamination, which has led to displacement of about 2.8 million people in the country since the coup. Furthermore, we are witnessing a deteriorating situation in which more and more children are losing their opportunity for education. Through education, children learn to understand different perspectives, the key to their inclusive and peaceful future. In Myanmar, however, it is reported that 3.7 million school-aged children lack access to learning due to conflict and insecurity. Japan is deeply concerned about these children.
 
Japan reiterates its strong condemnation against the current situation, where the Myanmar military has repeatedly extended the state of emergency without working towards a peaceful resolution, while countless innocent civilians, including children, have fallen victim to airstrikes and other forms of violence. Attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure, including schools and hospitals, should be immediately ceased.
 
Despite the difficulties of access, UNICEF has been trying to reach children and families in Myanmar to support their wellbeing. To support these efforts, this year, Japan provided a grant of approximately 4.7 million USD to Myanmar through UNICEF to support children and their families facing multiple humanitarian crises.  
 
All parties to the conflict must remove bureaucratic impediments, including refusal of travel authorizations and movement restriction, for humanitarian workers so that innocent children and their families can receive aid.
 
It is also alarming that the number of grave violations against children, such as killing and maiming, recruitment and use, and denial of humanitarian access, has increased in 2023 compared to that of the previous year. As we await the Secretary-General's report on Children and Armed Conflict in Myanmar this year, Japan believes that all Council members should adopt the conclusions in the Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict.
 
Japan also calls on all parties to the conflict to constructively engage with the Country Task Force on Monitoring and Reporting.
 
Japan stands with the people of Myanmar, including innocent children, and will continue to work closely with ASEAN and its Special Envoy, other regional partners, and the recently appointed Secretary-General’s Special Envoy, Ms. Julie Bishop, and all relevant UN entities to improve the situation and better protect the children in Myanmar.
 
Thank you.