EU, the African Union and the United Nations reaffirm commitment to end the use of child soldiers

Ahead of the International Day against the Use of Child Soldiers, on 12 February, European Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management, Hadja Lahbib, reaffirms the EU’s commitment to ending and preventing the recruitment and use of children by armed forces and armed groups worldwide. She signed a joint statement with African Union Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Ambassador Bankole Adeoye and United Nations Under-Secretary-General, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, Vanessa Frazier:

"On the International Day against the Use of Child Soldiers, we reiterate the importance of protecting children from the ravages of war, as we witness the staggering scale of today’s conflicts and their devastating impact on children. One in five children worldwide lives in conflict-affected settings. 

In 2024 alone, the United Nations verified the recruitment and use of 7,402 children by parties to conflict. 

At a time when multilateralism faces growing pressure, strong partnerships matter more than ever. Cooperation between the European Union, the African Union and the United Nations remains central to advancing the shared goal of protecting children affected by conflict and paving the way to sustainable peace.

We reaffirm our unwavering commitment to protecting children affected by armed conflict and to ending and preventing the recruitment and use of children by armed forces and armed groups worldwide.

We remain equally committed to addressing the root causes that drive child recruitment. We call on all parties in conflict situations to comply fully with international law, to immediately and unconditionally release all children from their ranks, and to ensure that children associated with parties to conflict are treated first and foremost as victims.

The protection of children underpins peace itself. Their voices must guide and inform our shared action."

The full statement can be read online.