Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether he has plans to include violations committed against children living in conflict in its protection of civilians strategy.

International Humanitarian Law (IHL) provides a robust legal framework for the protection of all civilians (including children) and combatants, and the UK works closely with states and NGOs to promote compliance with this legal framework.

The UK is committed to protecting children affected by armed conflict, including ending the recruitment and use of child soldiers. As an active member of the UN Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict (CAAC), we have been working in particular on how to improve humanitarian access for children in conflict. The UK frequently applies diplomatic pressure to states and non-state armed groups who violate the rights of children in conflict contexts, and funds projects to help protect and rehabilitate vulnerable children. In April 2018, we endorsed the Safe School Declaration and we are encouraging other countries to follow suit. The UK worked very closely with Sweden and others to agree a UN Security Council Resolution on Children and Armed Conflict which was adopted in early July this year. The UK has also endorsed the guidance set out in both the Paris Principles and the Vancouver Principles, which aims to ensure that child protection is an operational priority for UN peacekeeping missions.