The Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See to the United Nations has called on states and the international community to further work to protect children and vulnerable people who are affected by conflicts and wars. Source: Vatican News.
The statement was issued for the Security Council’s Open Debate on Children and Armed Conflict in New York on June 25.
“The international community must not fail in its responsibility to protect the lives, dignity and future of children affected by armed conflict,” the statement said.
“The response to their suffering will serve as an indicator of both the commitment to international law and the respect for the God-given human dignity of each person.”
The Permanent Observer Mission noted how “children continue to bear a disproportionate share of the suffering caused by armed conflict,” with many killed or injured in areas that should be safe, such as at home, in school, hospitals or places of worship.
“Others live with the consequences of violence long after the fighting has ended, experiencing trauma, disability and loss,” the statement continued, also highlighting how the documented rise in grave violations against children in armed conflicts should prompt action.
“The Holy See remains particularly concerned by the continued recruitment, abuse and abduction of children.
“These grave violations rob children of their childhood, separate them from their families and communities, and expose them to violence and exploitation, resulting in lasting consequences.
“Equally troubling are the effects of displacement, family separation, and the disruption of education and healthcare, as they deprive countless children of the conditions necessary for their well-being and integral human development.”
The statement emphasises how these situations are an affront to the God-given dignity of every child and should not be considered simply as collateral damage in the prosecution of war.
The Holy See’s Permanent Observer Mission also noted with concern the growing integration of emerging technologies, such as “unmanned and artificial intelligence-supported systems,” into military operations, adding that this also relates to the protection of children.
Recalling Pope Leo XIV’s words in his encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas, the statement underscored that “while technology can assist human beings in decision-making, it can never replace the moral judgment, responsibility, and accountability that must accompany decisions affecting human life.”
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Holy See: Nations must increase efforts to protect children in wars (By Isabella H. de Carvalho, Vatican News)
