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The European Commission, the African Union Commission, and the United Nations on Thursday called for the immediate release of child soldiers wherever they are globally.
EU Commissioner Hadja Lahbib, AU Commissioner Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, and UN Under-Secretary-General Vanessa Frazier made the demand in a joint statement on this year’s International Day against the Use of Child Soldiers.
The organizations reaffirmed their commitment to protecting children affected by armed conflict and to ending and preventing their recruitment by armed forces and armed groups.
All actors in conflict situations were asked to fully comply with international law, “unconditionally release all children from their ranks,” and to ensure that they are treated as victims.
The EU, AU, and UN said criminalising the recruitment and use of children and putting in place prevention measures, such as age verification mechanisms, are also fundamental to eradicating the problem.
Reiterating the importance of protecting children from the ravages of war, the bodies denounced the “staggering scale of today’s conflicts and their devastating impact on children.”
Children have long been identified as first and always the most vulnerable victims of armed conflict, with one in five children worldwide living in conflict-affected settings.
The United Nations, in 2024, verified the recruitment and use of 7,402 children by parties to conflict, while girls faced risks, including forced marriage and sexual exploitation.
The EU, AU, and UN decry survivors’ physical and psychological trauma, displacement, and the disruption of education and livelihoods, consequences that can compromise their prospects and well-being.
”At a time when multilateralism faces growing pressure, strong partnerships matter more than ever,” the statement noted. The allies vowed continued cooperation to protect children affected by conflict and pave the way to sustainable peace.
They urged the universal ratification and implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and its Protocol on the involvement of children in armed conflict, as well as the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child.
The EU, AU, and UN further enjoined countries to prioritise sustainable reintegration and accountability, and ensure comprehensive assistance, including health and psychosocial support, education, and access to livelihood opportunities.
EU, AU, UN demand immediate release of child soldiers wordwide
