Statement by Mr. Seok-hee Kang, First Secretary, Republic of Korea Interactive Dialogue with the SRSG on Children and Armed Conflict The 9th Session of the Human Rights Council
Geneva, 9 September 2008
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Mr. President,
My delegation would like to thank Ms. Radhika Coomaraswamy, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for her presentation.
We welcome the report that progress has been made in ending impunity. However, new issues of concern such as the changing nature of conflicts and the recruitment of children across borders demand special attention and careful analysis.
Mr. President,
Allow me to raise two questions for the attention of the Special Representative: (1) a regional approach and (2) cooperation between security bodies and human rights bodies.
First, as the report indicated, most parties to conflicts that violate the rights of children in situations of armed conflicts are non-state actors; these armed groups are moving across borders to recruit children as soldiers or suicide bombers. In order to respond to these cross-border activities, in our view, developing a common strategy and taking coordinated actions in cooperation with neighboring countries seems to be more effective rather than relying on the measures by a country concerned within its boundaries.
In this regard, an analysis of the status of the protection of children from a regional perspective beyond the view of one specific country will enable us to gain a better understanding of the situation on the ground, contributing to developing a comprehensive strategy for a particular region. I would like to ask Ms.
Coomaraswamy what she thinks about taking this regional approach.
Second, effectively protecting the rights of children in armed conflicts requires actions in the security field as well as human rights field. In this regard, we welcome the
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strengthened human rights monitoring capacity within peacekeeping operations in cooperation with the OHCHR. Meanwhile, the issue of the reintegration of child soldiers into society could be better addressed in close cooperation with the Peace- building Commission.
I would appreciate it if Ms. Coomaraswamy could elaborate on how we can further strengthen and expand cooperation between the OHCHR and the PKO missions in monitoring the rights of children in armed conflicts, and what the UN security bodies, including the Peace-building Commission are doing on this issue.
Thank you.
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