On 14 February 2013, the Security Council adopted resolution 2091, renewing the Panel of Experts which assists the Sudan Sanctions Committee established by resolution 1591 (2005). In renewing the Panel of Experts, the Security Council emphasized the need to protect children affected by armed conflict. The Council demanded an immediate and complete cessation by all parties to armed conflict of all acts of sexual violence against civilians, recruitment and use of children and other grave violations and abuses against children. The Council requested the Panel of Experts to assess in its reports progress made by parties in reducing violations of international humanitarian or human rights law, including specifically grave violations and abuses against children. It further requested the Panel of Experts to provide the Committee with information on the individuals and entities that should be subject to sanctions for such violations.
Security Council resolution 1591 on the situation in Sudan enables the imposition of sanctions on individuals who commit violations of international humanitarian or human rights law or other atrocities. This would include violations against children although these are not explicitly spelled out in the resolution. However, the Sudan Sanctions Committee has not imposed sanctions on the basis of violations against children. The Security Council has frequently, though not consistently, called for an end to violations against children in its resolutions renewing the panel of experts, but resolution 2091 is the first time the Council has asked the Panel of Experts specifically to include violations against children in its reporting.
The incorporation of children and armed conflict concerns in the renewal of the panel of experts closely follows recommendations to that effect contained in Watchlist’s Children and Armed Conflict Monthly Update for February 2013. Watchlist had recommended that the Security Council call on parties to end violations against children, renew the Panel of Experts and request the Panel of Experts to investigate perpetrators of grave violations against children and to recommend the Sanctions Committee designate them for the imposition of targeted measures.
