A/HRC/31/19
United Nations
General Assembly
Distr.: General
28 December 2015
Original: English
Human Rights Council
Thirty-first session
Agenda item 3
Promotion and protection of all human rights, civil,
political, economic, social and cultural rights,
including the right to development
Annual report of the Special Representative of the SecretaryGeneral for Children and Armed Conflict
Note by the Secretariat
The Secretariat has the honour to transmit to the Human Rights Council the report of
the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, Leila
Zerrougui. In the report, which covers the period from December 2014 to December 2015,
the Special Representative outlines the activities undertaken in discharging her mandate and
the progress achieved in addressing grave violations against children, including through
engagement with parties to conflict to end and prevent violations. The Special
Representative also explores the challenges in strengthening the protection of children
affected by armed conflict, including by addressing the impact of extreme violence, the
deprivation of liberty of children in situations of conflict and the displacement of children
as a result of armed conflict.
The Special Representative highlights the progress made in the “Children, Not
Soldiers” campaign to end and prevent the recruitment and use of children by national
security forces, and outlines key elements for the way forward. In addition, she notes the
developments regarding accountability for grave violations against children. Lastly, the
Special Representative sets out recommendations addressed to the Human Rights Council
and Member States to further the protection of children’s rights.
GE.15-22960(E)
*1522960*