On 30 June 2025, two volunteers from the United Nations Association Coventry Branch, Nankur Pontip Ramdur (who also contributed this article) and David Obasan, delivered presentations to students at Cardinal Newman Catholic School, Coventry. The presentations centred on the urgent … Continue reading →
The UN Secretary-General’s Report on Children and Armed Conflict published on 13 June 2024 states that in 2023, violence against children in armed conflict reached extreme levels, with a shocking 21 per cent increase in grave violations. Children bore the … Continue reading →
The website of the UN Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict describes the six main violations of children affected by armed conflict. They are: Killing and maiming of children; Recruitment or use of children as … Continue reading →
The UN Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict was established in 1999 following the publication, in 1996, of a report by Graça Machel entitled the “Impact of Armed Conflict on Children”. Her report … Continue reading →
Below you can find a presentation which UNA Coventry volunteers can deliver in schools and other venues within Coventry. This page is designed to provide our volunteers with the resources they will need to deliver it. If you are interested … Continue reading →
The following Statement by Virginia Gamba, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict was published on the Special Representative’s website, 19 March 2025. The release of 93 individuals recruited as children by the Myanmar Armed Forces … Continue reading →
UNICEF’s James Elder travelled 35 kilometres from Rafah to Gaza City with an aid convoy during the brief pause in fighting in November 2023. In this article first published on the UNICEF website he recounted the devastation he saw and … Continue reading →
We reported on a previous page that the recruitment of child soldiers is on the rise. Child soldiers are victims and most have no choice but to participate or risk being abused or killed. Their participation in conflict bears serious … Continue reading →
The Office of the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict reports that there are many ways for children to become associated with armed forces and groups. Some children are abducted and beaten into submission, others join military … Continue reading →
Around 20,000 Ukrainian children have been kidnapped and deported to Russia. Occasionally 5 or 10 children have been exchanged between Russia and Ukraine but most have not. Most are re-educated, forcibly adopted into Russian or Belarusian families and obstacles are … Continue reading →