This is my first shot at submitting a GA resolution. I've been participating in Model United Nations for the past few years so I thought I'd have a shot at this. Please let me know what you think! Thank you.
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QUESTION OF: Measures to Promote the Successful Demobilisation of Child Soldiers
SUBMITTED BY: Rees-Moggistan
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Reaffirming Security Council resolutions 1261 (1999) of 25 August 1999, 1314 (2000) of 11 August 2000, 1379 (2001) or 20 November 2001, 1460 (2003) of 30 January 2003, 1539 (2004) of 22 April 2004, 1612 (2005) of 26 July 2005, 1882 (2009) of 4 August 2009, 1998 (2011) of 12 July 2011, 2068 (2012) of 19 September 2012, 2143 (2014) of 7 March 2014, the Report of the Secretary General on 5 June 2015 (S/2015/409) and all relevant statements of the Security Council President, which contribute to a comprehensive framework for addressing the protection of children affected by armed conflict,
Recalling that all parties to armed conflict must comply strictly with the obligations applicable to them under international law for the protection of children in armed conflict, including those contained in the Convention on the Rights of the Child and its Optional Protocol on the involvement of Children in armed conflict, as well as the Geneva Conventions of 12th August 1949 and the Additional Protocols of 1977,
Further Recalling the responsibility of all Member States to comply with their obligations to end impunity and to investigate and prosecute those responsible for genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and other crimes perpetrated against children,
Gravely concerned by parties to conflict that continue to violate with impunity the relevant provisions of applicable international law relating to the rights and protection of children in armed conflict, especially by non-state armed groups, in particular violent extremist groups, including mass abductions, rape and other forms of sexual violence such as sexual slavery, particularly targeting girls, which can cause displacement and affect access to education and healthcare services, and emphasizing the importance of accountability for such abuses and violations,
Recognizing the importance of providing timely and appropriate reintegration and rehabilitation assistance to children affected by armed conflict, while ensuring that the specific needs of girls as well as children with disabilities are addressed, including access to health care, psychosocial support, and education programmes that contribute to the well-being of children and to sustainable peace and security,
Stressing the primary role of Governments in providing protection and relief to all children affected by armed conflict and the importance of strengthening national capacities in this regard,
Reiterating that all action undertaken by United Nations entities within the framework of the monitoring and reporting mechanism must be designed to support and supplement, as appropriate, the protection and rehabilitation roles of national Governments,
Recognizing also the important roles that local leaders and civil society networks can play in enhancing community-level protection and rehabilitation, including non-stigmatization, for children affected by armed conflict,
1) calls for the condemnation of all violations of applicable international law involving the recruitment and use of children by parties to armed conflict as well as their re-recruitment, killing and maiming, rape and other forms of sexual violence, abductions, attacks against schools and hospitals as well as denial of humanitarian access by parties to armed conflict and all other violations of international law, including international humanitarian law, human rights law and refugee law, committed against children in situations of armed conflict and demands that all relevant parties immediately put an end to such practices and take special measures to protect children;
2) stresses the need for effective identification and verification measures for those who are eligible to seek help under existing Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR) programmes, including:
a) clear eligibility criteria that should be widely publicised to maximise the publicity of DDR programmes and to encourage combatants, former combatants and dependent parties to step forth,
b) equitable policies that ensure all eligible parties are treated fairly, including very young children, women, the disabled and chronically ill,
c) screening measures to ensure that those ineligible under DDR programmes, inter alia, non-combatants, petty criminals or civilians in possession of illicit weapons such as small arms;
3) urges more effective management of DDR budgets, including but not limited to:
a) member states that have the material ability to do so should pledge to contribute more to DDR programmes in order to reduce the current funding gap often experience in DDR programmes,
b) for recipients of DDR funding to increase transparency regarding the use of allocated budgets in order to increase accountability and to allow for better accounting and financial management,
c) stay vigilant against the risks of corruption and mishandling of funds;
4) encourages increased inter-State military cooperation towards preventing any party to a conflict from continuing to use Child Soldiers, including:
a) increased allocations of WA peacekeepers towards areas that have seen an escalation in the use of Child Soldiers,
b) states that are in areas afflicted by the use of Child Soldiers in conflict to cooperate with WA peacekeepers towards securing particularly vulnerable areas,
c) for states to pledge financial, material and logistical support towards the development of a ‘fast-response’ network, spanning communication and transport infrastructure, to more effectively respond to military engagements that use Child Soldiers and in particular abductions,
d) for states to allow WA Police to work in tandem with local police towards the securing of small-arms stockpiles confiscated from former combatants and the security of any cantonment areas that are created for DDR participants;
5) strongly suggests for stricter controls on protocols for disarmament, including:
a) sites for disarmed weapons stockpiles to be secured by a combination of WA Peacekeepers and local Military units
b) the appropriate registration and tracking of all confiscated weapons to ensure accountability for all small arms that are disarmed from combatants in DDR
c) for a blanket policy to be agreed upon by all states to destroy the captured weapons of former combatants in a responsible manner, with no exemption unless sanctioned by the Security Council;
6) further urges all States to commit to effective demobilisation programmes:
a) where cantonment is necessary, to ensure that compounds have appropriate access to necessary provisions, inter alia, security, sanitation, food and healthcare
b) to ensure that any cantonment is as short as possible
c) that where demobilisation is mobile, States cooperate to ensure that all child DDR participants are returned to their parents in their States of origin where possible and if assessed to be safe, and if impossible then to find a secure location and for participants to begin the reintegration process;
7) further stresses the need for holistic solutions regarding the reintegration of DDR participants that involve all sectors of society:
a) reintegration programmes need to be supported by all influential actors in society to ensure that reintegrated combatants are legally equal and to reduce stigma and discrimination that they may face in society
b) to especially bear in mind that solutions should be delicate when addressed towards minors and that all staff handling reintegration matters should be trained for such a context
c) to provide opportunities and support for child soldiers to rehabilitate and reintegrate into society, including but not limited to:
I. healthcare, including gender-specific needs and access to HIV/AIDS treatment
ii. educational opportunities for very young, in line with the second Millennium Development Goal of Universal Primary Education
Iii. access to support systems for mental health, especially treatment Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome
iv. opportunities for gainful employment for those of working age
to assist child DDR participants in the search for their parents, where possible;
strongly encourages all States to cooperate to bring to justice any and all responsible parties who use child soldiers in conflict, by adopting the following protocols:a) for those States party to the Rome Statute to cooperate in the extradition of captured individuals and parties who use child soldiers to the International Criminal Court to stand trial
b) for those States not party to the Rome Statute to cooperate in the creation of a special international tribunal for the trial of captured parties
c) to create truth and reconciliation programmes where necessary to allow communities to better reconcile and find closure in the aftermath of conflict;
9) decides to remain seized upon the matter.
