In order to promote the impact and effectiveness of the United Nations children and armed conflict (CAC) agenda, Watchlist pursued the following policy and advocacy activities on the occasion of the March 2015 CAC open debate:

  1. Special CAC Monthly Update

In support of its lobbying activities, Watchlist released its special edition of the CAC Monthly Update, specifically featuring its recommendations for the Security Council on the occasion of the March 2015 CAC open debate. It urged the Security Council to commit to specific actions to strengthen the implementation of its children and armed conflict agenda:

Click here to read the March 2015 Special CAC Monthly Update

  1. Briefing Paper: Working Methods 2006-2014: Strengthening the Impact of the Security Council Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict

In support of its recommendations, Watchlist timed the publication of its annual update of the Working Methods briefing paper with the March 2015 CAC open debate, namely to call upon the Security Council to increase the effectiveness of its Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict (SCWG-CAAC). In 2006, the SCWG-CAAC adopted a toolkit outlining 26 actions and recommendations that it may apply in its country-specific conclusions. These tools range from letters to parties concerned to forwarding information to sanctions committees. Watchlist found that between 2006 and 2014, the Working Group used an average of 7.4 out of 26 available tools, or 28 percent, per conclusion, thus predominantly relying on a minority of available tools. Other tools available include press conferences, demarches, letters to justice mechanisms, and request for information from the concerned parties.

Click here to read the Background Document for the March 2015 Special CAC Monthly Update

Click here to read Watchlist’s Press Release on the March 2015 Open Debate on Children and Armed Conflict