June 8, 2021 – The report from Watchlist’s January 2021 annual policy workshop on children and armed conflict (CAAC), hosted jointly with Fordham University’s Institute of International Humanitarian Affairs, was issued as an official UN Security Council document (S/2021/504) at the request of the Permanent Mission of Belgium.

The workshop convened representatives from UN Security Council Member States, non-Council Member States, the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict (OSRSG-CAAC), the Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms while Countering Terrorism, UN agencies, and civil society to discuss the implementation of the UN’s CAAC agenda, clearly identify priorities, and develop targeted recommendations for the year 2021.

The workshop consisted of three closed working sessions dedicated to (1) the Security Council Working Group on CAAC, (2) the implications of efforts to counter terrorism and violent extremism on the CAAC agenda, and (3) safeguarding child protection capacity in UN missions.

Read the official report of the January 2021 Annual Policy Workshop.

Photo credit: © UN Photo/Loey Felipe