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The Honourable Mr. Jacek Czaputowicz, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland and President of the Security Council,

 

Excellencies/Ladies and gentlemen,

 

At the outset, Malaysia wishes to align ourselves with the statement delivered by Vietnam on behalf of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

 

2.  My delegation wishes to congratulate Poland on assuming the presidency of the Security Council for the month of August 2019. We would also like to thank Special Representative Virginia Gamba for her remarks and for presenting on behalf of the Secretary-General the Annual Report on CAAC this morning.

 

3.  We would also like to extend our sincere appreciation to Ms Henrietta Fore, Executive Director of UNICEF for the valuable insights.

 

4.  My delegation thanks Mr. Majok Peter Awan from South Sudan in sharing his experiences as a former child soldier and his testimony on the effects of child abduction.

 

Mr. President,

 

5. Malaysia shares the deep concern expressed by the Secretary General on the scale and severity of the grave violations committed against children in 2018. These continued violations against children shock our collective consciousness which demand a concerted and collective response.

 

6.  A vital component of comprehensive approach to child protection is accountability. In this respect, Malaysia urges for affirmative actions to be taken under national or international justice mechanisms, where appropriate, against parties that commit violations and abuses against children. This has become more relevant this year as we celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the adoption of the Security Council Resolution 1882 (2009).

 

7.  The Security Council has developed various tools to ensure accountability and compliance of parties to conflict, including through the listing mechanism in the annual report. Malaysia wishes to reiterate the importance of integrity and impartiality in the listing of all perpetrators of grave violations of children’s rights.  We believe that facts should be the determining factor that guides our actions under this mechanism. 

 

Mr. President,

 

8.  Malaysia supports the call by the Secretary General for Member States to allow safe, timely and unimpeded access for humanitarian assistance and the protection of humanitarian personnel and assets, in line with Security Council Resolution 2417 (2018).

 

9.  As a matter of suggestion, Malaysia believes that the UN would gain by developing a practical guidance on data collection on the denial of humanitarian access. We hope that this effort would help to standardize and support the work of UN Country Task Forces on Monitoring and Reporting (CTFMR) of the Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism (MRM).

 

10.  Further, Malaysia believes that UN peace operations and political missions should maintain dedicated child protection capacity to ensure that child protection concerns are prioritized even in the context of downsizing, consolidation or transition of such operations. 

 

11.  With regard to reintegration, Malaysia believes that it is a long-term effort that requires the shared responsibility of all stakeholders. In this regard, we called on Member States, UN entities and other parties concerned to integrate child protection provisions in the community-based reintegration programmes that foster a spirit of unity and reconciliation amongst communities ravaged by war.

 

12.  To further support CAAC agenda, my delegation encourages all member states to consider endorsing the Safe Schools Declaration[1]. This would deter the military use of educational facilities in armed conflict and preserve schools as mainstays of learning, in line with the Vancouver Principles[2] that further operationalize child protection within UN peacekeeping with a focus on preventing the recruitment and use of child soldiers.

 

Mr. President,

 

13.  Malaysia reaffirms its commitments to ensure that children around the world affected by armed conflict are given the greatest consideration and attention that they truly deserve.

 

Thank you.

 

(6 minutes)