The recent UNICEF briefing to the United Nations Security Council highlighted significant strides in protecting children affected by armed conflict, emphasizing the urgent need for continued action and support. In 2024 alone, over 16,000 children were successfully reintegrated after exiting armed forces and groups, marking a critical step towards reclaiming their futures.

Key developments were reported from various conflict zones. In Syria, the opposition Syrian National Army signed an action plan aimed at preventing the recruitment and use of children in armed conflict. The Central African Republic established a protocol for the swift transfer of children from armed groups to civilian care, while in Colombia, former commanders faced accountability for war crimes related to child recruitment and violence. Additionally, efforts in the Democratic Republic of the Congo included age assessments to separate children from national security forces, and in Haiti, a joint task force was created to implement handover protocols for children associated with armed groups.

UNICEF's briefing underscored the importance of political will in achieving progress, noting that where there is commitment, positive change is possible. However, the organization also called for urgent action in six key areas to further protect children in conflict zones. These include demanding respect for international humanitarian law, stopping the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, and ensuring humanitarian access for aid workers. The briefing stressed that humanitarian access is being increasingly denied, with a record number of aid workers killed in 2024.

UNICEF urged member states to support humanitarian engagement with non-state armed groups to enhance child protection and to fund initiatives aimed at safeguarding children in conflict. The message was clear: while progress has been made, the fight to protect children in armed conflict remains critical and requires immediate and sustained action from the international community.