Preamble

We, Members of the Human Security Network(1), agree to give priority attention to the promotion and protection of the rights of children affected by armed conflict and therefore commit ourselves to a 'HSN Support Strategy' in this field. Action will be sought in preventing child rights violations and assisting child victims of armed conflict.

This political commitment is inspired by the overall imperative of bridging the gap between universal human rights standards and their implementation, between infor-mation and action and between programmatic concepts and systematic response on the ground. In line with the UN Secretary General's dictum of a general move to an 'era of application' in his report on Children and Armed Conflict, the present key elements have been identified as priority areas for strategic intervention by HSN Members.

By engaging in those core issues the Network seeks to add value to the interna-tional response to such situations in an action-oriented manner. Such added value is also demonstrated in combining the human rights based approach of the Network with its people centred human security perspective.

Important progress has already been achieved concerning the status of child rights evidenced by the near universal ratification of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), the entry into force of the Optional Protocol to the CRC on the involve-ment of Children in Armed Conflict and of the Optional Protocol to the CRC on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution, and Child Pornography. Such progress of standard set-ting has been complemented by the adoption of Security Council resolutions 1261(1999), 1314(2000), 1379(2001), 1460(2003) and the Plan of Action of the 2002 Special Session on Children of the General Assembly entitled "A World Fit for Chil-dren". This is the firm basis for HSN Members to launch this initiative.

HSN Members that have not yet done so will endeavour signing and ratifying or acceding to the relevant child rights instruments, in particular the Optional Protocols to the CRC, as they are essential for the implementation of this Strategy.

Founded upon the comprehensive standards of CRC and its general principles - the best interest of the child, the right to survival and development, the right to participa-tion and to non-discrimination - HSN members will build upon research, advocacy and ongoing policy formulation, undertaken within the United Nations, regional organisa-tions and by the many NGOs, both international and national. In this respect, HSN Members will support awareness building, programmatic interventions and other imple-mentation efforts as well as continue and deepen their own programmes in the field.

All actions shall be taken either on behalf of HSN by the HSN Chair and/or indi-vidually by HSN members upon consultation.

Strengthening monitoring and reporting

1. HSN members will give priority attention to the implementation by parties to armed conflict of their international obligations in respect of children. HSN will build these efforts on all applicable human rights standards, especially CRC and its Optional Protocols, interna-tional humanitarian law, international labour law, especially ILO Convention No. 182 on the Worst Forms of Child Labour, refugee law and the Guiding Principles on Internal Dis-placement.
2. To this end, HSN will
• support existing monitoring and reporting on violations of child rights by the United Nations system and other regional arrangements, especially field presences, Special Rapporteurs and Representatives as well as by the Committee on the Rights of the Child, NGOs and local child protection capacities.
• engage in information sharing, coordination of existing efforts and active co-operation with all relevant agencies and institutions, organisations on the regional and sub-regional level such as the EU, OSCE, the African Union, the Organization of American States, ECOWAS, local actors, as well as the ICC.
• call for more effective response mechanisms and more systematic operational activities with regard to monitoring and reporting.
• promote advocacy and mainstreaming of the issue of child rights into the work of the deliberative organs/governing bodies of relevant international and regional or-ganisations, UN treaty body and special procedures systems, decision making proc-esses and operational activities.
3. In doing so, the HSN will consult closely with specialised NGOs, research and think tank institutions benefiting from their important role and expertise in this field, and civil so-ciety at large. HSN Members will consider assuming responsibility for networking and as-sessing information in their respective regions including at the local level.

Focusing on Training activities

4. As a concrete contribution to improved monitoring and reporting HSN has developed a model curriculum for child rights/child protection training, child rights monitoring and child rehabilitation. On the basis of this general guide HSN members will consider starting to in-troduce specific child focused training for field staff engaged in missions organised bilater-ally, regionally or in cooperation with international organisations.
5. Such training echoing substantially the prevention aspect of the Support Strategy should be provided to all relevant categories of civil and military staff working in conflict and post conflict societies and adapted according to their specific functions.

Alarm function in response to child rights violations

6. HSN will aim at effecting an 'alarm function' in response to child rights violations in emerging, ongoing and post conflict situations with a view to bridging gaps - gaps between information and action as well as gaps between obligations/commitments and compliance. This may concern programmatic or institutional aspects as well as the level of interest re-garding emerging, ongoing and post conflict situations. Specific attention will be given to particularly vulnerable groups of children.
7. With regard to information, monitoring and reporting HSN will base itself on the UNSG's list, SRSG/CAAC, UNICEF, UNHCR, OCHA, UN field presences, CHR Special Rapporteurs and Representatives, regional organisations, institutions like the ICC and spe-cialised NGOs active on these issues. It will also make use of information and analysis gath-ered from representations of HSN members. At the regional level, the respective HSN Members will be attentive to situations giving rise to concern and signal cases to the Chair which might subsequently be taken up by the Network.
8. HSN Members will use their collective political weight, as appropriate, at national, re-gional and international levels to concretely address reported child rights violations upon consultation. Possible instruments for response include quiet diplomacy, demarches, state-ments and resolutions in relevant international fora and, if necessary, alerting media and public opinion in order to foster support for action at the political level.

Fighting impunity

9. HSN members underscore the importance of ensuring that there is no impunity for child rights violations and crimes against children. HSN members will work together to ensure that international and national justice and truth-seeking mechanisms during and after conflict address crimes against children and develop child sensitive procedures.
10. Concerning the International Criminal Court, HSN members will pay particular atten-tion to the application of the specific provisions of the Rome Statute concerning children, and to the composition of the Court, thereby ensuring that a sufficient proportion of candi-dates for judicial and other positions have expertise in child rights.
11. HSN members will also promote the child specific aspects of accountability mecha-nisms (e.g. Sierra Leone, East Timor, Burundi, Cambodia). HSN Members that are already involved in the conflict resolution of specific countries/conflict situations will ensure that child rights issues are taken into account in the respective peace processes.
12. HSN members will ensure that criminal proceedings involving children affected by armed conflict are held in full respect of all guarantees and safeguards regarding juvenile justice. HSN Members will continue efforts to strengthen juvenile justice systems.

Focusing on protection of children with special needs, in particular girls

13. Based on the recommendations contained in the 2002 reports of the UNSG concerning children and armed conflict as well as women, peace and security, HSN will give priority at-tention to the protection of children with special needs, in particular the different needs of girls and boys, internally displaced children, sexually exploited children, children affected by HIV/AIDS and other STDs, unaccompanied children or child combatants.
14. On the basis of the Six Core Principles of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee on Emergencies HSN will give special attention to the prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse against children, especially girls including female adolescents, and of sexually trans-mitted diseases including HIV/AIDS.
15. HSN will also support efforts aimed at promoting gender equality and at improving the capacity of girls to make their own decisions.
16. HSN Members will strive to enhance the protection of and assistance to internally dis-placed children in accordance with the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement.
17. HSN Members will provide assistance to children disabled by landmines and of war-related injuries.

Promoting child participation in peace processes and post-conflict situations

18. Emphasis will be placed on the role children can play in the building of durable peace and in creating more equitable societies in the aftermath of conflicts. HSN will strive for their participation in the prevention and peaceful resolution of conflicts as well as in post conflict peace building processes.
19. Special attention needs to be given to appropriately include them in all demobilization, disarmament, rehabilitation, reintegration and post-conflict reconstruction programmes.
20. In addressing the problems and needs of children affected by armed conflict, the HSN will work for the inclusion of former child combatants in all programmes.