United Nations Security Council Resolution 1261

UN Security Council
Resolution 1261
UN Security Council ; Resolution 1261
	Former child soldiers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Date	25 August 1999
Meeting no.	4,037
Code	S/RES/1261 (Document)
Subject	Children and armed conflict
Voting summary	15 voted for; None voted against; None abstained;
Result	Adopted
Security Council composition
Permanent members	China ; France ; Russia ; United Kingdom ; United States ;
Non-permanent members	Argentina ; Bahrain ; Brazil ; Canada ; Gabon ; Gambia ; Malaysia ; Namibia ; Netherlands ; Slovenia ;

Last updated April 05, 2021

United Nations Security Council resolution 1261, adopted unanimously on 25 August 1999, in the first resolution to address the topic, the Council condemned the targeting of children in armed conflict including the recruitment and use of child soldiers.^[1]

The security council was informed prior to the adoption of the resolution that 300,000 children from the age of seven or eight were serving as soldiers, guerrillas or supporting roles in armed conflicts in more than 30 countries around the world.^[2] It was also told that wars within the past decade, armed conflicts had killed 2 million children.^[3]

Resolution

Observations

The preamble of the resolution noted recent efforts to bring to an end the use of child soldiers in violation of international law, including the Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention and the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court which prohibits forced conscription of children under the age of fifteen in armed forces or the participation in war crimes.^[4]

Acts

The security council expressed concern at the effect of armed conflict on children and the long-term effects on peace, security and development. It strongly condemned the targeting of children in conflict via murder, mutilation, sexual violence, abduction, displacement or use in the military.^[5] All concerned parties were called upon to comply with their obligations under international law, in particular the Geneva Conventions and the Convention on the Rights of the Child and violators and bring violators to justice. The parties were also urged to ensure the protection of children (particularly with respect to gender-based violence) and to take their welfare and rights seriously during peace negotiations and additionally to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid to children.

The council supported the efforts of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), United Nations Commission on Human Rights and Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict. It underlined the importance of the safety, security and freedom of movement for United Nations and humanitarian personnel and urged all countries and the United Nations system to ensure an end to the recruitment and use of children in armed conflict through political efforts and the demilitarisation, demobilisation, rehabilitation and reintegration of child soldiers.^[6] The council recalled the provisions of Resolution 1209 (1998) concerning the effects of the proliferation of arms on vulnerable groups, particularly children and in this regard reminded states to restrict arms transfers that would provoke or prolong conflict.^[7]

The resolution reaffirmed the Security Council's readiness when dealing with situation of children in armed conflict to:

(a) ensure the provision of humanitarian assistance to the civilian population and taking into account the needs of children;

(b) support the protection and resettlement of displaced children through the UNHCR and others;

(c) consider the impact on children when adopting measures under Article 41 of the United Nations Charter concerning sanctions;

(d) consider appropriate responses when buildings or sites used by children were targeted in armed conflict.

Finally, the Secretary-General Kofi Annan was asked to ensure that United Nations personnel had appropriate training on the rights and welfare of children and to report to the council by 31 July 2000 on the implementation of the current resolution.

Related Research Articles

Child Soldiers International, formerly the Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers, was a UK-based non-governmental organization that worked to prevent the recruitment, use and exploitation of children by armed forces and groups. As of 07 June 2019, it is no longer operational.

Children in the military Children recruited for military operations

Children in the military are children who are associated with military organisations, such as state armed forces and non-state armed groups. Throughout history and in many cultures, children have been involved in military campaigns. For example, thousands of children participated on all sides of the First World War and the Second World War. Children may be trained and used for combat, assigned to support roles such as porters or messengers, or used for tactical advantage as human shields or for political advantage in propaganda.

12 February, 2002

United Nations Security Council Resolution 1612, adopted unanimously on 26 July 2005, after recalling resolutions 1261 (1999), 1308 (2000), 1314 (2000), 1325 (2000), 1379 (2001), 1460 (2003) and 1539 (2004), the Council established a monitoring and reporting mechanism on the use of child soldiers.

United Nations Security Council Resolution 1674, adopted unanimously on April 28, 2006, after reaffirming resolutions 1265 (1999) and 1296 (2000) concerning the protection of civilians in armed conflict and Resolution 1631 (2005) on co-operation between the United Nations and regional organisations, the Council stressed a comprehensive approach to the prevention of armed conflict and its recurrence.

United Nations Security Council resolution 1199, adopted on 23 September 1998, after recalling Resolution 1160 (1998), the Council demanded that the Albanian and Yugoslav parties in Kosovo end hostilities and observe a ceasefire.

United Nations Security Council resolution 1265, adopted unanimously on 17 September 1999, in the first resolution to address the topic, the council discussed the protection of civilians during armed conflict.

United Nations Security Council resolution 1296, adopted unanimously on 19 April 2000, after recalling Resolution 1265 (1999), the Council discussed steps to enhance the protection of civilians during armed conflict.

United Nations Security Council resolution 1314 was adopted unanimously on 11 August 2000, after recalling Resolution 1261 (1999) on children and armed conflict and other resolutions including 1265 (1999), 1296 (2000) and 1306 (2000). The Council expressed concern at the impact of conflict upon children and the use of child soldiers, and expressed willingness to consider further measures under the United Nations Charter when dealing with situations of children in armed conflict.

United Nations Security Council resolution 1341, adopted unanimously on 22 February 2001, after recalling resolutions 1234 (1999), 1258 (1999), 1265 (1999), 1273 (1999), 1279 (1999), 1291 (2000), 1296 (2000), 1304 (2000), 1323 (2000) and 1332 (2000) on situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Council demanded that all parties to the conflict in the country implement disengagement plans and adopt withdrawal plans for foreign troops by 15 May 2001.

United Nations Security Council resolution 1355, adopted unanimously on 15 June 2001, after recalling resolutions 1234 (1999), 1258 (1999), 1265 (1999), 1273 (1999), 1279 (1999), 1291 (2000), 1296 (2000), 1304 (2000), 1323 (2000), 1332 (2000) and 1341 (2001) on situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Council extended the mandate of the United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC) until 15 June 2002 subject to review every four months.

United Nations Security Council resolution 1379, adopted unanimously on 20 November 2001, after recalling resolutions 1261 (1999), 1265 (1999), 1296 (2000), 1306 (2000), 1308 (2000), 1314 (2000) and 1325 (2000), the Council considered provisions to protect children during peacekeeping operations and requested the Secretary-General to identify parties to conflict that used or recruited child soldiers.

United Nations Security Council resolution 1460, adopted unanimously on 30 January 2003, after recalling resolutions 1261 (1999), 1265 (1999), 1296 (2000), 1306 (2000), 1308 (2000), 1314 (2000), 1325 (2000) and 1379 (2001), the Council called for the immediate end to the use of child soldiers and endorsed an "era of application" of international norms and standards for the protection of war-affected children.

United Nations Security Council resolution 1468, adopted unanimously on 20 March 2003, after recalling previous resolutions on the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Council welcomed an agreement on the establishment of a transitional government and requested an increased presence of the United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC) in the Ituri region in the east of the country amid escalating violence.

United Nations Security Council resolution 1493, adopted unanimously on July 28, 2003, after recalling all resolutions on the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Council extended the mandate of the United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC) until 30 July 2004 and raised its troop level from 8,700 to 10,800.

United Nations Security Council resolution 1539, adopted unanimously on 22 April 2004, after recalling resolutions 1261 (1999), 1308 (2000), 1314 (2000), 1325 (2000), 1379 (2001) and 1460 (2003), the Council condemned the use of child soldiers and asked the Secretary-General to devise a monitoring mechanism.

United Nations Security Council Resolution 1998, adopted unanimously on July 12, 2011, after reaffirming resolutions 1261 (1999), 1314 (2000), 1379 (2001), 1460 (2003), 1539 (2004), 1612 (2005) and 1882 (2009) on the protection of children in armed conflict, the Council declared schools and hospitals off limits for both armed groups and military activities, asking the Secretary-General for such crimes to be placed on a list of those committing "grave violations" against children.

United Nations Security Council Resolution 1738, adopted unanimously on December 23, 2006, after reaffirming resolutions 1265 (1999), 1296 (2000), 1502 (2003) and 1674 (2006) on the protection of civilians in armed conflict, the Council condemned attacks against journalists in conflict situations. It was the last resolution adopted by the Security Council in 2006.

United Nations Security Council Resolution 2002, adopted unanimously on July 29, 2011, after recalling resolutions 733 (1992), 1519 (2003), 1558 (2004), 1587 (2004), 1630 (2005), 1676 (2006), 1724 (2006), 1744 (2007), 1766 (2007), 1772 (2007), 1801 (2008), 1811 (2008), 1844 (2008), 1853 (2008), 1862 (2009), 1907 (2009), 1916 (2010) and 1972 (2011), the Council tightened sanctions against Eritrea and Somalia to include individuals and entities recruiting or using child soldiers in the Somali Civil War, in addition to those responsible for attacks against schools and hospitals in Somalia.

The terrorist group, self-proclaimed Islamic State has committed several fundamental violations of children's rights in the Middle East, particularly in Iraq and Syria The conventions protecting children's rights is the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). This is the most ratified international human rights treaty in history which established the widely supported view that children and young persons have the same basic general human rights as adults and also specific rights that recognize their special needs. A further two additional protocols were adopted by the UN General Assembly on 25 May 2000 covering the involvement of children in armed conflict and on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography. In ISIL's rise in the recent years, they have committed various violations of the (CRC) and its protocols, which have been signed and ratified by Iraq and Syria.

References

↑ "Security Council strongly condemns targeting of children in situations of armed conflict, including their recruitment and use as soldiers". United Nation. 25 August 1999.
↑ "UN move to protect children from war". BBC News. 26 August 1999.
↑ "UN passes resolution on child soldiers". RTÉ. 26 August 1999.
↑ Happold, Matthew (2005). Child soldiers in international law. Manchester University Press. p. 44. ISBN 978-0-7190-6586-6.
↑ Singer, Peter W. (2004). "Talk Is Cheap: Getting Serious About Preventing Child Soldiers" (PDF). Cornell International Law Journal: 561–586.
↑ Vandewiele, Tiny (2006). Optional protocol: the involvement of children in armed conflicts, Volume 51. Martinus Nijhoff Publishers. p. 13. ISBN 978-90-04-14730-0.
↑ Ensalaco, Mark; Majka, Linda C. (2005). Children's human rights: progress and challenges for children worldwide. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 125. ISBN 978-0-7425-2988-5.

External links

Works related to United Nations Security Council Resolution 1261 at Wikisource
Text of the Resolution at undocs.org

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.

[1] "Security Council strongly condemns targeting of children in situations of armed conflict, including their recruitment and use as soldiers". United Nation. 25 August 1999.

[bbc-2] "UN move to protect children from war". BBC News. 26 August 1999.

[3] "UN passes resolution on child soldiers". RTÉ. 26 August 1999.

[4] Happold, Matthew (2005). Child soldiers in international law. Manchester University Press. p. 44. ISBN 978-0-7190-6586-6.

[5] Singer, Peter W. (2004). "Talk Is Cheap: Getting Serious About Preventing Child Soldiers" (PDF). Cornell International Law Journal: 561–586.

[6] Vandewiele, Tiny (2006). Optional protocol: the involvement of children in armed conflicts, Volume 51. Martinus Nijhoff Publishers. p. 13. ISBN 978-90-04-14730-0.

[7] Ensalaco, Mark; Majka, Linda C. (2005). Children's human rights: progress and challenges for children worldwide. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 125. ISBN 978-0-7425-2988-5.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]