On October 10, 2024, Counsellor Mrs. Marissa del Rosario Blackett delivered a statement at the United Nations General Assembly Third Committee on the topic of “Children and Armed Conflict.”
The session opened with a presentation by Ms. Virginia Gamba, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, who briefed the Committee on the progress of her mandate. Ms. Gamba highlighted that the most prevalent violations against children in conflict zones continue to be killing and maiming, recruitment and use of children in hostilities, denial of humanitarian access, and abduction. She expressed deep concern over the 2023 figures, which revealed that 11,649 children—one-third of them girls—were killed or maimed.
Despite the grim statistics, Ms. Gamba emphasised that with the adoption of comprehensive measures, children can be protected, even as the nature, complexity, and intensity of armed conflicts evolve. However, she also warned that current child protection capacities are severely limited, particularly in newly emerging conflict areas, and stressed the urgent need to strengthen and safeguard these efforts.
Counsellor Blackett underscored the devastating impact of armed conflict on children, emphasising that they are the most vulnerable group in times of war. She added that the consequences of conflict—displacement, malnutrition, physical and psychological trauma, loss of education, and vulnerability to trafficking—rob children of their present and future, obstructing global progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Counsellor Blackett highlighted the importance of a holistic approach to aid, addressing both the visible wounds and the lasting psychological scars of conflict. She discussed the efforts of the Sovereign Order of Malta, particularly in conflict zones like the Democratic Republic of Congo and Ukraine, to provide life-saving assistance, psychological support, and educational opportunities for children. Counsellor Blackett emphasised the need for global commitment to ensuring that every child affected by conflict not only survives but flourishes, warning that neglecting these issues endangers both the futures of these children and the stability of societies at large.
