A panel discussion "Toward an Inclusive and Equitable Future: Protection of Children in Armed Conflict, Emerging Technologies, and WPS Principles in Arms Control" was held on the sidelines of the 58th session of the UN Human Rights Council, DKnews.kz reports.
The event was organized on the initiative of the Permanent Missions of Italy, Kazakhstan, Slovenia and the Philippines, in cooperation with the Office of the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, Virginia Gamba. It was attended by more than 80 UN Member States, as well as the academic and non-governmental sectors.
During the discussion, the current dynamics of children's involvement in armed conflict, the gender perspective of the impact of conflict on boys and girls were discussed. Particular attention was paid to the impact of new technologies, such as artificial intelligence and autonomous weapons, which increase the risks for children, including recruitment, exploitation and targeting in conflict zones. Discussions aimed to define strategies to protect children and address their specific needs in these circumstances.
Speaking at the event, the Permanent Representative of Kazakhstan, Yerlan. Alimbayev, noted with regret that despite the collective efforts of the international community, children continue to bear the brunt of armed conflicts around the world:
“They are recruited as soldiers, exploited as laborers, and subjected to unspeakable violence. The physical and psychological scars they carry often last a lifetime, hindering not only their individual futures but also the long-term stability and development of their societies”
In this vein, the Kazakh diplomat shared the experience of Kazakhstan, which pioneered to repatriate its citizens from conflict zones in Syria and Iraq, giving them a chance to start a new life. It was noted that as a result of special humanitarian operations, a total of 725 Kazakh citizens, including 500 children, were returned to their homeland.
Permanent Representative Yerlan Alimbayev concluded his intervention with a number of recommendations to strengthen the protection of children in armed conflict, to develop ethical standards for the use of emerging technologies in conflict zones, and to increase funding for prevention, rehabilitation and reintegration programmes for children affected by armed conflict.
The Human Rights Council is an intergovernmental body within the United Nations system made up of 47 States responsible for the promotion and protection of all human rights around the globe.
It has the ability to discuss all thematic human rights issues and situations that require its attention throughout the year. It meets at the United Nations Office at Geneva.
The Council holds no fewer than three regular sessions a year, for a total of at least ten weeks. They take place in February-March, June-July and September-October. Sessions can be three, four or five weeks long, depending on the programme of work.
