児童と武力紛争に関する安保理公開討論における石兼公博大使ステートメント
令和4年7月19日
(As delivered)
I thank Brazil for convening this important meeting. I also thank the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for the report on children and armed conflict.
Over twenty years, the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict has been guiding the efforts of Member States to ensure the rights of children for special protection as well as their right to education in conditions of peace and security. However, the number of attacks on schools is rising. Refugee, internally displaced and stateless children affected by violent conflicts are often denied of their rights, even to go to school.
The situation faced by the children in Ukraine since the Russian invasion is particularly worrying. Japan made contribution to UNICEF, 14.2 million US Dollars in March and additional 10 million US Dollars in April, to ensure child protection and education to children affected by the war.
Lost educational opportunities will have lasting negative impacts on future generations, and on the future of every nation. We must not forget that education needs to be maintained at all costs even during conflict and other dire situations, as education can be a life-saving intervention and also provide hope for the future. In this regard, it was a privilege for me to sign a note with UNICEF last week to provide approximately 9 million US Dollars to support quality education and promote access to education in Burkina Faso. The international community needs to continue doing more to protect and empower our children, and our future.
Mr. President,
I would like to emphasize that in an age of uncertainty and complexity, the best way forward is to invest in people. Providing quality education is a powerful tool to prevent and mitigate conflicts and crises and to promote peace and sustainable development. I am expecting that today’s open debate will feed into our ongoing discussions and generate further momentum toward the Transforming Education Summit (TES) in September.
I thank you.