Mr. Special Representative, Mr. Bruderlein, colleagues, ladies and gentlemen, Let me first of all thank the Harvard Program on Humanitarian Policy and Conflict Research as the main organiser of this Round Table, as well as the Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers and the Watchlist on Children and Armed Conflict, for their highly important initiative bringing us together today to discuss and review the status of the issue of children affected by armed conflict and international child protection commitments.

I believe this exercise to be right in time to convey a stimulating message to the United Nations, especially to the forthcoming Security Council's debate on children and armed conflict on November 20th. I would also like to express my appreciation for the prospective and tangible visions of SRSG Otunnu, to share with us his thorough analysis on the situation of children affected by armed conflict which helps define effective future options on the basis of his valuable work.

It is my pleasure to convey to you from the Austrian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mrs. Benita Ferrero-Waldner, who currently holds the chair of the Human Security Network, her wishes for a successful and inspiring meeting. The Human Security Network fully supports this event and hopes to build on its results.

The Human Security Network is a group of like-minded countries from all regions of the world, comprising Austria, Canada, Chile, Greece, Ireland, Jordan, Mali, the Netherlands, Norway, Slovenia, South Africa as an observer, Switzerland and Thailand. Since its establishment five years ago, the Network has put security and the rights of the individual at the centre of policy shaping.

Energising political potential through its unique inter-regional perspective, the members of the Network are committed to strengthening human security with a view to creating a more humane world. A World in which everyone - and with particular priority, every child - can live in security and dignity, enjoying freedom from want and freedom from fear. Increasing awareness for human security at the political level, adding real value to the international debate and improving implementation of existing standards in this field, are the objectives of the Network.

The two priority issues of the Human Security Network during the Austrian presidency are Human Rights education and children affected by armed conflict. On the latter issue, the Network is in the process of developing a common support strategy for children affected by armed conflict to be presented at the next Ministerial Meeting of the Network in May 2003 in Graz. This strategy will include:

• An alarm function in emerging or manifest situations of child rights violations in situations of armed conflict
• The strengthening of child specific monitoring activities, advocacy and networking through the UN and NGOs
• The special protection needs of girls in armed conflict guided by the Secretary General's recommendations of 28 October 2002
• The highlighting of the importance of the fight against impunity, child-sensitive investigation and detention of juvenile offenders and ex-combatants and sanctions for staff having transgressed codes of conduct - in the light of recently recognised international standards such as the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court
• child protection training: The Network will seek better child rights training for field personnel and envisages setting up a pool of pre-trained child focussed monitors and experts for rehabilitation

In the framework of the United Nations, the Human Security Network aims also at contributing real value to the debate on this important subject, including through statements made at the Third Committee of the General Assembly, the Security Council debate on Women, Peace and Security and at the forthcoming Security Council debate on children affected by armed conflict. By actively supporting today's event, the Network demonstrates our continued commitment to this burning issue.

Over the last decade, the UN system has started to create an overarching response structure to the complex issue of children affected by armed conflict. This includes normative standard setting - in particular the Optional Protocols to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the establishment of the mandate of the Special Representative, as well as the appointment of Child Protection Advisers. The landmark study by Graca Machel and her 2000 review clearly highlight the root causes of and the shortcomings in addressing child rights violations in armed conflict. Understanding the different vulnerabilities of children affected by armed conflict, such as the impact of organized and structural violence on children or the role of cultural behaviour and local context for protection and rehabilitation, is key to any targeted response. To build on these elements and to go beyond programmatic approaches towards systematic implementation has become a logical necessity.

In contemporary conflict we are confronted with a broad number of challenges related to children: targeting of civilians, prevention of illegal and forced recruitment, disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration, the sector of juvenile justice, all forms of exploitative relationships with young people, abduction, trafficking, displacement, and the whole issue of landmines, light weapons and small arms. This list also includes the conceptual challenge of directly involving children and adolescents in peace processes and reconstruction efforts.

Concerning this politically sensitive area let me say that I consider the "child-conscious peace process" initiative of SRSG Otunnu as a core component in our strategy to help children affected by armed conflict facing their own future. A compelling example was given by the Northern Ireland Assembly on 24 June 2002 in establishing an Office of the Commissioner for Children. It is obvious that systematic integration of child rights and child protection objectives in the mandates of peace operations and strategies for monitoring the implementation of commitments related to children - such as the "search for disappeared" in El Salvador or provisions for street orphans in the Arusha Peace Agreement - feature as essential short-term challenges in this field.

In emphasizing a broadly based introduction of peace education, the UNGA Special Session on Children in May 2002 echoed this appeal in its Plan of Action, also pointing to the plight of displaced and separated children, and their need for social infrastructure, especially vis-à-vis child-headed households and societies of working children.

There are on the other hand a number of encouraging initiatives, such as "days of tranquillity", "corridors of peace", "child friendly spaces", especially in refugee camps, ombudspersons and national commissions for children, help for psycho-social needs of children and families in post-conflict situations, as performed for instance by the Ljubljana Centre for traumatised children. Canada, Norway and Switzerland as partners in the Human Security Network have contributed through their initiatives to pave the way. UNICEF acting as a focal point, together with international NGOs currently carries out a "lessons learned" study referring to the new instrument of Child Protection Advisers as established in Sierra Leone, for ECOWAS, the IASC Task Force on Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse in Humanitarian Crises or in the "Voice of Children" project.

A comprehensive Action Plan for Promoting the Security of Children Affected by Armed Conflict is required. Children, peace and security belong together, founded on a democratic culture committed to the realization of human rights. Ensuring the human rights of children and acting in their best interests, has to figure at the forefront of priority setting, policy-making and resource allocation if they are to stem the inter-generational transmission of fear and prejudice.

I am confident that this workshop today will provide an important opportunity for advancing the debate on children affected by armed conflict, formulating better responses and successfully keeping up the momentum to develop impact on the ground. Thank you.