Greece calls for concrete action to protect children in armed conflicts
Greece has called for stronger accountability and concrete measures to protect children caught in armed conflicts, with Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis urging the international community to turn commitments into measurable action.
Speaking in New York ahead of a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) open debate titled “30 Years of Children and Armed Conflict: From Commitments to Concrete Change,” Gerapetritis said children around the world continued to face violence and were being denied the protection guaranteed under international law.
PROGRESS SINCE THE GRAÇA MACHEL REPORT
Marking the 30th anniversary of Graça Machel’s landmark report on the impact of armed conflict on children, Gerapetritis highlighted progress made through the UN Security Council’s monitoring and reporting mechanisms.
He said these efforts had helped thousands of children leave armed groups and reintegrate into their communities.
However, the minister stressed that progress should be measured not by promises alone, but by the protection delivered on the ground. Violations against children, he added, must never be treated as an inevitable consequence of war.
GREECE-BACKED UN RESOLUTION
Gerapetritis also welcomed the unanimous adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 2832, which Greece had introduced and which received the support of approximately 100 UN member states, according to the report.
He thanked the countries that backed the resolution and called for international commitments to be translated into measurable action, with accountability and prevention placed at the centre of efforts to protect children.
DIGITAL PLATFORMS POSE NEW RISKS
The Greek foreign minister warned that threats to children in conflict situations increasingly extend into digital spaces. The recruitment and exploitation of children through online channels, he said, must be treated as seriously as violations committed through more traditional means.
Referring to Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’s address to the UN General Assembly, Gerapetritis also highlighted Greece’s legislative initiatives aimed at using artificial intelligence and emerging technologies to strengthen child protection.
He said the protection of children was a non-negotiable priority as new technologies reshape the risks they face.
Greece’s appeal comes amid continued international efforts to strengthen protections for children affected by armed conflict and ensure that violations are investigated and addressed.
