United Nations Security Council Resolution 1998
Encyclopedia
United Nations
Security Council Resolution
1998, adopted unanimously on July 12, 2011, after reaffirming resolutions 1261
(1999), 1314
(2000), 1379
(2001), 1460
(2003), 1539
(2004), 1612
(2005) and 1882
(2009) on the protection of child
ren in armed conflict, the Council declared schools and hospitals off limits for both armed groups and military activities, asking the Secretary-General for such crimes to be placed on a list of those committing "grave violations" against children.
The resolution, sponsored by Germany
, was the eighth resolution concerning children and armed conflict passed since 1998.
on children. All parties to conflict were called upon to comply with international law
concerning the protection of civilians in armed conflict, such as the Geneva Conventions
and the Convention on the Rights of the Child
. The Council acknowledged progress made since the implementation of resolution 1612 and 1882, and stressed the responsibility of national governments to protect and provide relief to children affected by armed conflict.
Council members viewed the protection of children in armed conflict as important to a comprehensive strategy to resolve conflict. There was a need to end impunity
and those that perpetrated violent acts against children, and there were provisions in the statute of the International Criminal Court
.
The text of Resolution 1998 expressed concern about attacks and the threat of attacks on school
s and/or hospital
s, including attacks on personnel in relation to them and the closure of the institutions in times of conflict and threat of attack.
, rape
, abduction
, killing, attacks against schools or hospitals and the denial of humanitarian access to children. The Secretary-General was asked to include information on attacks against schools or hospitals and protected persons in his reports, along with a specific aspect of the report dedicated to the matter of children in armed conflict.
The resolution urged parties to armed conflict to refrain from actions that would prevent children from gaining access to education
or health services; in this regard, the Secretary-General was to monitor and report on the illegal military use of schools. Noting that some parties to armed conflict had prepared plans to end the use of children in conflict, those that had not done so were urged to fulfil their obligations and prepare time-bound plans to end illegal practises.
The Council was determined to ensure respect for its resolutions on children in armed conflict. All states were asked to take action against persistent perpetrators of violations of international law concerning children in situations of armed conflict. Meanwhile, the United Nations would include provisions for the protection of children in its peacekeeping
, peacebuilding
and political missions.
Finally, the Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
was asked to report by June 2012 on the implementation of Resolution 1998.
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
Security Council Resolution
United Nations Security Council Resolution
A United Nations Security Council resolution is a UN resolution adopted by the fifteen members of the Security Council; the UN body charged with "primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security"....
1998, adopted unanimously on July 12, 2011, after reaffirming resolutions 1261
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1261
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1261, adopted unanimously on August 25, 1999, in the first resolution to address the topic, the Council condemned the targeting of children in armed conflict including the recruitment and use of child soldiers....
(1999), 1314
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1314
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1314, adopted unanimously on August 11, 2000, after recalling Resolution 1261 on children and armed conflict and other resolutions including 1265 , 1296 and 1306 , the Council expressed concern at the impact of conflict upon children and the use of child...
(2000), 1379
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1379
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1379, adopted unanimously on November 20, 2001, after recalling resolutions 1261 , 1265 , 1296 , 1306 , 1308 , 1314 and 1325 , the Council considered provisions to protect children during peacekeeping operations and requested the Secretary-General to...
(2001), 1460
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1460
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1460, adopted unanimously on January 30, 2003, after recalling resolutions 1261 , 1265 , 1296 , 1306 , 1308 , 1314 , 1325 and 1379 , the Council called for the immediate end to the use of child soldiers and endorsed an "era of application" of...
(2003), 1539
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1539
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1539, adopted unanimously on April 22, 2004, after recalling resolutions 1261 , 1308 , 1314 , 1325 , 1379 and 1460 , the Council condemned the use of child soldiers and asked the Secretary-General to devise a monitoring mechanism.The resolution marked the...
(2004), 1612
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1612
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1612, adopted unanimously on July 26, 2005, after recalling resolutions 1261 , 1308 , 1314 , 1325 , 1379 , 1460 and 1539 , the Council established a monitoring and reporting mechanism on the use of child soldiers.More than 50 governments and rebel groups...
(2005) and 1882
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1882
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1882 was unanimously adopted on 4 August 2009.- Resolution :Parties to armed conflict engaging in patterns of “killing and maiming of children and/or rape and other sexual violence against children” must also be listed in the Secretary-General’s reports on...
(2009) on the protection of child
Child
Biologically, a child is generally a human between the stages of birth and puberty. Some vernacular definitions of a child include the fetus, as being an unborn child. The legal definition of "child" generally refers to a minor, otherwise known as a person younger than the age of majority...
ren in armed conflict, the Council declared schools and hospitals off limits for both armed groups and military activities, asking the Secretary-General for such crimes to be placed on a list of those committing "grave violations" against children.
The resolution, sponsored by Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, was the eighth resolution concerning children and armed conflict passed since 1998.
Observations
In the preamble of the resolution, the Security Council recalled its commitment to international peace and security, including the impact of conflictWar
War is a state of organized, armed, and often prolonged conflict carried on between states, nations, or other parties typified by extreme aggression, social disruption, and usually high mortality. War should be understood as an actual, intentional and widespread armed conflict between political...
on children. All parties to conflict were called upon to comply with international law
International law
Public international law concerns the structure and conduct of sovereign states; analogous entities, such as the Holy See; and intergovernmental organizations. To a lesser degree, international law also may affect multinational corporations and individuals, an impact increasingly evolving beyond...
concerning the protection of civilians in armed conflict, such as the Geneva Conventions
Geneva Conventions
The Geneva Conventions comprise four treaties, and three additional protocols, that establish the standards of international law for the humanitarian treatment of the victims of war...
and the Convention on the Rights of the Child
Convention on the Rights of the Child
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child is a human rights treaty setting out the civil, political, economic, social, health and cultural rights of children...
. The Council acknowledged progress made since the implementation of resolution 1612 and 1882, and stressed the responsibility of national governments to protect and provide relief to children affected by armed conflict.
Council members viewed the protection of children in armed conflict as important to a comprehensive strategy to resolve conflict. There was a need to end impunity
Impunity
Impunity means "exemption from punishment or loss or escape from fines". In the international law of human rights, it refers to the failure to bring perpetrators of human rights violations to justice and, as such, itself constitutes a denial of the victims' right to justice and redress...
and those that perpetrated violent acts against children, and there were provisions in the statute of the International Criminal Court
International Criminal Court
The International Criminal Court is a permanent tribunal to prosecute individuals for genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and the crime of aggression .It came into being on 1 July 2002—the date its founding treaty, the Rome Statute of the...
.
The text of Resolution 1998 expressed concern about attacks and the threat of attacks on school
School
A school is an institution designed for the teaching of students under the direction of teachers. Most countries have systems of formal education, which is commonly compulsory. In these systems, students progress through a series of schools...
s and/or hospital
Hospital
A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment by specialized staff and equipment. Hospitals often, but not always, provide for inpatient care or longer-term patient stays....
s, including attacks on personnel in relation to them and the closure of the institutions in times of conflict and threat of attack.
Acts
The Security Council strongly condemned all violations of international law involving the recruitment of children by parties to armed conflict, as well as sexual violenceSexual violence
Sexual violence occurs throughout the world, although in most countries there has been little research conducted on the problem. Due to the private nature of sexual violence, estimating the extent of the problem is difficult...
, rape
Rape
Rape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse, which is initiated by one or more persons against another person without that person's consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority or with a person who is incapable of valid consent. The...
, abduction
Kidnapping
In criminal law, kidnapping is the taking away or transportation of a person against that person's will, usually to hold the person in false imprisonment, a confinement without legal authority...
, killing, attacks against schools or hospitals and the denial of humanitarian access to children. The Secretary-General was asked to include information on attacks against schools or hospitals and protected persons in his reports, along with a specific aspect of the report dedicated to the matter of children in armed conflict.
The resolution urged parties to armed conflict to refrain from actions that would prevent children from gaining access to education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
or health services; in this regard, the Secretary-General was to monitor and report on the illegal military use of schools. Noting that some parties to armed conflict had prepared plans to end the use of children in conflict, those that had not done so were urged to fulfil their obligations and prepare time-bound plans to end illegal practises.
The Council was determined to ensure respect for its resolutions on children in armed conflict. All states were asked to take action against persistent perpetrators of violations of international law concerning children in situations of armed conflict. Meanwhile, the United Nations would include provisions for the protection of children in its peacekeeping
Peacekeeping
Peacekeeping is an activity that aims to create the conditions for lasting peace. It is distinguished from both peacebuilding and peacemaking....
, peacebuilding
Peacebuilding
Peacebuilding is a term used within the international development community to describe the processes and activities involved in resolving violent conflict and establishing a sustainable peace....
and political missions.
Finally, the Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
Ban Ki-moon
Ban Ki-moon is the eighth and current Secretary-General of the United Nations, after succeeding Kofi Annan in 2007. Before going on to be Secretary-General, Ban was a career diplomat in South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and in the United Nations. He entered diplomatic service the year he...
was asked to report by June 2012 on the implementation of Resolution 1998.
See also
- Laws of warLaws of warThe law of war is a body of law concerning acceptable justifications to engage in war and the limits to acceptable wartime conduct...
- List of United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1901 to 2000 (2009 – 2011)
- List of ongoing military conflicts
- Military use of childrenMilitary use of childrenThe military use of children takes three distinct forms: children can take direct part in hostilities , or they can be used in support roles such as porters, spies, messengers, look outs, and sexual slaves; or they can be used for political advantage either as human shields or in...