张军大使在安理会儿童与武装冲突问题公开辩论会上的发言

Statement by Ambassador Zhang Jun at the Open Debate of the Security Council on “Children and Armed Conflict”

 

2019年8月2日

2 August 2019

 

主席先生，

Mr. President,

 

这是我就任中国常驻代表以来，首次出席安理会正式会议。请允许我借此机会，向你及各位同事致以亲切的问候，期待与你们保持密切沟通、协调与合作。

As this is my first time to attend the formal meeting of the Security Council as the Permanent Representative of China, please allow me to take this opportunity to extend my cordial greetings to you and my colleagues here. I look forward to working with you in close communication and coordination.

 

中方感谢秘鲁担任安理会7月轮值主席所做工作，祝贺波兰担任安理会8月轮值主席，欢迎查普托维奇外长主持会议，感谢甘巴特别代表、福尔执行主任以及其他通报人的发言。

China thanks Peru for the work it has done as President of the Council in July, and congratulates Poland on its assumption of the presidency of the Council in August. We welcome Foreign Minister Czaputowicz who chairs this meeting, and thank SRSG Gamba, Executive Director Fall and other briefers for their statements.

 

儿童是国家的希望。关爱儿童就是在呵护未来。近年来，国际社会为保护冲突中儿童作出巨大努力，取得积极进展，但武装冲突远未消除，甚至愈演愈烈，导致12000名儿童在2018年死亡或残疾，创下新高。这一记录令人难过，更让人警醒，防止儿童遭受战乱之苦、保护儿童安全成长，我们任重而道远。

Children are the hope of every country. Caring for children is protecting our future. In recent years, the international community has made tremendous efforts to protect children in conflicts and achieved positive progress. But armed conflicts, far from being eliminated, have intensified, resulting in 12,000 children killed or maimed in 2018, a record high number. This is a very sad record, which serves as a reminder that we have heavy and arduous responsibility on our shoulders to protect children from the scourge of war so that they can grow up in safety and security.

 

中方反对并谴责武装冲突中侵害儿童权益的行为，支持联合国及安理会为保护武装冲突中儿童所作的各项努力。我愿强调以下几点：

China opposes and condemns violations of children’s rights and interests in armed conflicts and supports the efforts of the United Nations and the Security Council to protect children in armed conflicts. I would like to emphasize the following points:

 

第一，实现和平是对儿童的最好的保护。战火冲突对儿童危害最大，预防和化解冲突是当务之急、根本之道。安理会作为维护国际和平与安全的首要机构，应切实履职尽责，运用《联合国宪章》规定的斡旋、调解、对话、谈判等政治手段，增进同区域和次区域组织合作，支持和推动冲突各方以和平方式解决争端，为儿童成长营造安全环境。

First, achieving peace provides the best protection for children. As children bear the brunt of war and conflicts, preventing and resolving conflicts is a top priority. Being the primary organ for the maintenance of international peace and security, the Security Council should fulfill its duties by using all political means such as mediation, good offices, dialogue and negotiation as stipulated in the UN Charter, promote cooperation with regional and sub-regional organizations and support and urge parties to the conflict to resolve disputes by peaceful means so as to create a safe environment for children to grow up.

 

第二，支持当事国承担首要责任。执行安理会关于保护儿童的决议，关键在于当事国政府的努力与合作。国际社会应充分尊重当事国主导权，加强对话沟通，提供实实在在的支持和帮助，包括解决资金、技术等方面的实际困难。长远看，可持续发展是实现持久和平的支撑。国际社会应尊重并保障当事国作为发展中国家的地位和权益。

Second, we should support the countries concerned in taking up the primary responsibility. The key to implementing the Security Council’s resolution on the protection of children lies in the efforts and cooperation of the governments of the countries concerned. The international community should fully respect the leadership of the countries concerned, enhance dialogue and communication and provide effective support and assistance in addressing difficulties, including financial and technological ones. In the final analysis, sustainable development is the foundation underpinning lasting peace. The international community should respect and guarantee the rights of the countries concerned and their status as developing countries.

 

第三，凝聚国际合力，推动标本兼治。国际社会在解决冲突的整体努力中，应将保护儿童作为有机组成部分，在政治谈判及和平协议中予以高度重视。在推进冲突后重建、建设和平战略时，应将儿童重返学校和回归社会、加强保护儿童的机制建设等作为优先事项，提供充足资源保障，加大发展援助，积极支持当事国为消除贫困、普及教育、保护儿童各项权利作出努力。

Third, we should forge synergy in international efforts to tackle both the symptoms and the root causes of problems. In the collective endeavor of the international community to resolve conflicts, protection of children should be treated as an integral part and given full attention in political negotiations and peace agreements. In advancing the post-conflict reconstruction and peace-building strategy, we should give priority to children’s return to school and society, and enhancing the mechanisms for child protection. Adequate financial resources should be provided and development assistance should be scaled up. Countries concerned should be actively supported in their efforts to eradicate poverty, promote education and protect children’s rights.

 

中方愿同各方共同努力，让冲突地区的儿童告别武器，远离战争，快乐而有尊严的生活，开创个人、国家和世界的美好未来。

China is ready to work with all parties in this respect, so that children in conflict areas can give up weapons, stay away from war, live a happy life in dignity, and create a bright future for themselves, their countries and the world.

 

谢谢主席先生。

Thank you, Mr. President.