児童と武力紛争に関する安保理アリア・フォーミュラ会合における山﨑大使ステートメント

 
Thank you, Mr. Chair, Ambassador Eloy Alfaro de Alba.
 
I would like to thank Panama for convening today’s important discussion, which Japan is pleased to co-sponsor. I would also like to thank the distinguished briefers for their insightful and sobering analysis.
 
Grave violations against children in conflict settings have reached historic levels, with over 41,000 verified incidents in 2024—including a dramatic 44 percent rise in attacks on schools. These figures are deeply troubling and underscore the growing threats faced by children, families, and educators in conflict-affected areas.
 
Access to quality, safe education is a fundamental human right and a powerful tool to prevent and mitigate conflict. Children out of school are often more vulnerable to recruitment and other forms of grave violations. Education also plays a critical role in the reintegration and rehabilitation of those formerly associated with armed groups, helping reduce the likelihood of re-recruitment and offering pathways toward peaceful livelihoods.
 
Recognizing these imperatives, Japan has launched 5 million USD project in collaboration with UNICEF to restore learning opportunities for more than 83,600 conflict-affected children across five states in Sudan. This comes at a time of an unprecedented education crisis with learning disrupted for millions of children, disproportionately impacting girls and children with disabilities. By restoring schools, we are not just rebuilding classrooms—we are restoring hope, dignity, and future opportunities for children.
 
Japan also recognizes that education must be part of a broader, nexus-based approach embodied in the concept of human security, which places the individual at the center and seeks to protect human dignity. Building on this understanding, Japan has served as a co-chair of the Group of Friends for Education since its establishment, contributing to the commitment to advancing inclusive, equitable, and quality education for every learner. We will continue to advocate for the protection of education to ensure that no child’s future is determined by conflict.
 
I thank you.