On June 24, 2026, the Security Council will hold its open debate on children and armed conflict (CAAC), under Colombia’s presidency. The Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict (SRSG-CAAC) will present the Secretary-General’s (SG) 2026 annual report on CAAC (forthcoming), covering the period from January 1 to December 31, 2025. The open debate will focus on the protection of schools and educational settings and on the prevention of attacks against schools.
In view of the upcoming open debate, Watchlist recommends that the Security Council and other UN Member States:
- Strongly reiterate support for the UN’s CAAC agenda, demand increased compliance with international law and child protection norms, and strengthen accountability measures for perpetrators of grave violations;
- Strengthen the effective use of existing mechanisms and tools to monitor, report, and respond to grave violations; and
- Redouble efforts to prevent grave violations against children and protect their rights in armed conflict.
Read Watchlist’s Special Update for the June 2026 Open Debate.
Photo Credit: UN Photo/Loey Felipe
