United Nations Security Council Resolution 1261
| UN Security Council Resolution 1261 |
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Former child soldiers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
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| Date | 25 August 1999 |
| Meeting no. | 4,037 |
| Code | S/RES/1261 (Document) |
| Subject | Children and armed conflict |
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Voting summary
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15 voted for None voted against None abstained |
| Result | Adopted |
| Security Council composition | |
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Permanent members
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Non-permanent members
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United Nations Security Council resolution 1261, adopted unanimously on 25 August 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.
The Security Council was informed prior to the adoption of the resolution that 300,000 children from the age of seven or eight were serving as soldiers, guerrillas or supporting roles in armed conflicts in more than 30 countries around the world. It was also told that wars within the past decade, armed conflicts had killed 2 million children.
The preamble of the resolution noted recent efforts to bring to an end the use of child soldiers in violation of international law, including the Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention and the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court which prohibits forced conscription of children under the age of fifteen in armed forces or the participation in war crimes.
The Security Council expressed concern at the effect of armed conflict on children and the long-term effects on peace, security and development. It strongly condemned the targeting of children in conflict via murder, mutilation, sexual violence, abduction, displacement or use in the military. All concerned parties were called upon to comply with their obligations under international law, in particular the Geneva Conventions and the Convention on the Rights of the Child and violators and bring violators to justice. The parties were also urged to ensure the protection of children (particularly with respect to gender-based violence) and to take their welfare and rights seriously during peace negotiations and additionally to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid to children.
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