The Security Council,
Reaffirming its resolutions 1261 (1999)
of 25 August 1999, 1314 (2000) of
11 August 2000, 1379 (2001) of 20 November 2001, 1460 (2003) of 30 January
2003, 1539 (2004) of 22 April 2004, 1612 (2005) of 26 July 2005, 1882 (2009) of
4 August 2009 and 1998 (2011) of 12 July 2011, and all relevant Statements of
its President, which contribute to a comprehensive framework for addressing the
protection of children affected by armed conflict,
Reiterating its primary responsibility
for the maintenance of international peace and security and, in this
connection, its commitment to address the widespread impact of armed conflict
on children,
Having considered the report of the
Secretary-General of 26 April 2012 (A/66/782-S/2012/261) and stressing that the present resolution
does not seek to make any legal determination as to whether situations which
are referred to in the Secretary-General’s report are or are not armed
conflicts within the context of the Geneva Conventions and the Additional
Protocols thereto, nor does it prejudge the legal status of the non-State
parties involved in these situations,
Stressing the primary role of
Governments in providing protection and relief to all children affected by
armed conflict, and reiterating that all actions undertaken by United Nations
entities within the framework of the monitoring and reporting mechanism must be
designed to support and supplement, as appropriate, the protection and
rehabilitation roles of national Governments,
Stressing the importance of
comprehensively protecting children in all situations of armed conflict,
Acknowledging that the implementation of
its resolutions 1612 (2005), 1882 (2009) and 1998 (2011) has generated
progress, in particular the demobilization of thousands of children, the
signing of action plans between parties to armed conflict and the United
Nations and the delisting of parties to conflict from the Annexes to the
Secretary-General’s annual report,
Remaining deeply concerned over the lack
of progress on the ground in some situations of armed conflict, where parties
to conflict continue to violate with impunity the relevant provisions of
applicable international law relating to the rights and protection of children
in armed conflict,
Recognizing the importance of
strengthening national capacities for the protection, reintegration and
rehabilitation of children affected by armed conflict, bearing in mind national
ownership,
Recalling the responsibilities of States
to end impunity and to prosecute those responsible for genocide, crimes against
humanity, war crimes and other egregious crimes perpetrated against children,
Stressing the need for alleged
perpetrators of crimes against children in situations of armed conflict to be
brought to justice through national justice systems and, where applicable,
international justice mechanisms and mixed criminal courts and tribunals in
order to end impunity,
Noting also relevant provisions of the
Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court,
1. Welcomes
the appointment of the new Special Representative of the Secretary-General for
Children and Armed Conflict and highlights the importance of her work in
carrying out her mandate for the protection of children in situations of armed
conflict, in accordance with relevant Security Council resolutions;
2. Strongly
condemns all violations of applicable international law involving the
recruitment and use of children by parties to armed conflict as well as their
re-recruitment, killing and maiming, rape and other sexual violence,
abductions, attacks on schools and/or hospitals as well as denial of
humanitarian access by parties to armed conflict and demands that all relevant parties immediately put an end to such
practices and take special measures to protect children;
3. Expresses
deep concern that certain perpetrators persist in committing violations and
abuses against children in situations of armed conflict in open disregard of
its resolutions on the matter, and in this regard:
(a) Calls
upon Member States concerned to bring to justice those responsible for such
violations through national justice systems, and where applicable,
international justice mechanisms;
(b) Reiterates
its readiness to adopt targeted and graduated measures against persistent
perpetrators, taking into account relevant provisions of its resolutions 1539
(2004), 1612 (2005), 1882 (2009) and 1998 (2011);
4. Invites
the SRSG to brief the Security Council on questions relating to the delisting
process and progress made, enabling an exchange of views;
5. Reiterates
its call upon the Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict to consider,
with the support of the Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict,
within one year, a broad range of options for increasing pressure on persistent
perpetrators of violations and abuses committed against children in situations
of armed conflict;
6. Requests
the Secretary-General to continue to submit annual reports to the Council on
the implementation of its resolutions and Presidential statements on children
and armed conflict, and to submit his next report by June 2013;
7. Decides
to remain actively seized of this matter.
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