STATEMENT BY
MS. NUR AZURA ABD KARIM
COUNSELLOR, PERMANENT MISSION OF MALAYSIA TO THE UNITED NATIONS
AT THE
UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL OPEN DEBATE ON
“CHILDREN AND ARMED CONFLICT: EFFECTIVE STRATEGIES TO END AND PREVENT GRAVE VIOLATIONS AGAINST CHILDREN”
26 JUNE 2025, UNSC CHAMBER
UNITED NATIONS HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK
President,
Malaysia expresses its appreciation to you for convening this important debate. We also thank Special Representative Virginia Gamba and the distinguished briefers for their valuable insights.
- The Secretary-General’s 2025 report on Children and Armed Conflict paints a grim picture. It reveals a staggering increase in grave violations against children, with 41,370 verified incidents in 2024. This is a sobering reflection of the failure to protect the most vulnerable in times of war.
- Nowhere is this crisis more acute than in Gaza. The report confirms that more than 7,000 grave violations were committed by Israeli security forces in 2024, including the killing and maiming of children, the destruction of education and medical infrastructure, and the systematic denial of humanitarian assistance. Thousands of children were killed and injured, in attacks that showed blatant disregard for international humanitarian law. The situation is further aggravated by the collapse of essential services. Children in Gaza today face death, starvation, displacement and trauma. In fact, they face the complete erosion of their basic rights.
- Malaysia condemns these atrocities in the strongest terms. We are particularly alarmed by the continued use of explosive weapons in densely populated areas, the obstruction of humanitarian aid, and the targeting of civilian infrastructure including schools, shelters, and hospitals. We reiterate the Secretary-General’s call for all parties to fully comply with international humanitarian law and international human rights law. The principles of distinction, proportionality, and precaution must be respected at all times, especially when children are present.
- Grave violations of the rights of Palestinian children have continued for far too long, with impunity. It is imperative that thorough and impartial investigations are carried out, and that perpetrators are held accountable in accordance with international law. The failure to pursue justice not only emboldens further atrocities but undermines the very foundation of the international legal system.
President,
- Children are not mere statistics. Behind every figure in the Secretary General’s report is a life interrupted and a future denied. Our collective responsibility is to ensure that children are protected from violence, exploitation, and fear. Malaysia remains firmly committed to the protection of children in armed conflict and is proud to announce its commitment to the “Prove It Matters” campaign. We must act now to protect the lives, dignity, and rights of all children, especially those enduring the horrors of war.
I thank you.
