KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 18 ― The subject of children in armed conflict will be a priority issue Malaysia will pursue as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), said the country’s permanent representative to the UN, Datuk Hussein Haniff.
He said Malaysia welcomed the report by the Special Representative of the Secretary General for Children in Armed Conflict and commended the noble campaign of ‘Children, Not Soldiers’ launched by the special representative and Unicef.
“We recognise that this is an ambitious undertaking, but we hope the campaign will succeed in ending the recruitment and use of children by government armed forces in conflict by 2016,” he said.
Hussein said this in his address on Agenda Item 64: Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Children of the Third Committee, in New York today (Saturday.)
The text of his speech was released here today.
On violence against children, he said poverty, income inequality, political stability and conflict were among some of the many factors that had been identified that could increase the risk of violence.
“No violence against children is justifiable, thus there is an urgent need for international partnership to address the root causes of this problem, and for a mechanism to be put in place to stop and prevent violence against children,” he said.
He said the participation and advancement of the present generation should usher in a future generation that would ensure a country’s survival, development and prosperity.
“Malaysia thus reaffirms its strong commitment to the efforts in protecting and promoting the rights of its children.
“Protecting our children is a priority as they are the ones to safeguard the well-being of our community, nation and future. It is only fair that we leave them with a world that is truly fit for all,” he added.
While addressing Agenda Item 77 on the UN Programme of Assistance in the Teaching, Study, Dissemination and Wider Appreciation of International Law at the Sixth Committee of the 69th Session of the UN General Assembly in New York on the same day, Hussein said Malaysia would like to see continued funding for the programme.
“The Programme of Assistance is important to our fundamental quest in instilling the rule of law in international relations as it promotes and educates people from all across the globe and is vital in fostering understanding among member states,” he said.
Meanwhile, he said, Malaysia reaffirmed its support and would continue to be an active dialogue partner to Africa, under the framework of South-South cooperation.
He said Malaysia also hoped that more countries would participate in future African economic activity, thus further enhancing the development of Africa as a whole.
Hussein said this in his address on Agenda Item 63: New Partnership for Africa’s Development: Progress in Implementation and International Support and Agenda Item 13: 2001-2010: Decade to Roll Back Malaria in Developing Countries, Particularly Africa’ at the plenary of the 69th session of the UN General Assembly. ― Bernama
