Protecting Children in Armed Conflict - Our Common Future 5-6 June 2023, Oslo Norway

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Norway is working to mobilise the international community to make commitments to improve the protection of children affected by war and conflict. Together with UNICEF, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and Save the Children International, Norway is therefore hosting an international conference on protecting children in armed conflict in Oslo on 5–6 June 2023.

The conference is also being organised in partnership with the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, and the African Union.

‘Children are entitled to special protection under international humanitarian law and are to be given priority in humanitarian action. But this is not the reality for many children growing up in conflict situations. They are deeply affected both physically and psychologically. Conflict has a dramatic impact on their lives and their future,’ said Ms Huitfeldt.

The number of children living in conflict areas has doubled over the last 30 years. The UN verified over 266 000 grave violations against children committed by parties to armed conflict between 2005 and 2020.

‘The lack of adequate protection affects more than just the children themselves. It has enormous immediate and long-term impacts on efforts to achieve development, peace and security. Our common future is at stake,’ said Ms Huitfeldt.

Norway is organising the conference to focus political awareness on the effects of armed conflict on children, and children's special need for protection. The aim is to mobilise resources and increase the political and operational efforts of states, the UN, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and civil society to protect children and young people.

‘We have a shared responsibility to bring about change. Parties to armed conflict must act responsibly and comply with international humanitarian law. Humanitarian efforts must be strengthened. Achieving this will take political will, practical measures and resources,’ said Ms Huitfeldt.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Anniken Huitfeldt is representing Norway as the host of the conference. Minister of International Development Anne Beathe Tvinnereim will also take part, together with the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict Virginia Gamba, politicians from a wide range of countries, representatives of the African Union and the EU, and representatives of the UN and NGOs.

MONDAY 5 JUNE

Simultaneous translation between English, Arabic, French and Spanish is provided in all plenary sessions and in parallel sessions II

09:00 - 11:00 Arrival and registration of participants

11:00 - 12:00 Light lunch/coffee

12:00 - 14:00 Opening plenary session 1

Fargespill

Children's call to action (video)

"Family-photo" in the room

Opening statement Minister of Foreign Affairs of Norway, Anniken Huitfeldt

Committing to action for the protection of children in armed conflict

Keynote: Virginia Gamba, Special Representative of the Secretary General for Children and Armed Conflict (SRSG CAAC)

Preventing violations against children affected by armed conflict

Panel discussion:

Mobilizing across sectors for children in armed conflict to prevent violations and strengthen protection

Moderator SRSG CAAC Virginia Gamba
H.E. Maream Al-Misnad, Minister of Social development and family, Qatar
H.E. Alberto Lara, Vice Minister of Defense & Security Policies, Colombia
H.E. Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, President, Malta Foundation for the Wellbeing of Society
Rt. Hon. Robert Nanima, Special Rapporteur on Children and Armed Conflict for the African Union

Ministerial statements

H.E. Deng Dau Deng, Act. Minister of Foreign Affairs of South Sudan

H.E. Modeste Mutinga Mutuishayi, Minister of Social Affairs, Humanitarian Action and National Solidarity, Democratic Republic of Congo

Provisional Speakers list to be announced

14:00 - 14:30 Coffee break

14:30 - 15:45 Parallel sessions

I. Preventing and responding to displacement and family separation (Munch 1, ground floor)

Moderator: Jean-Nicolas Beuze UNHCR

Abba Yusuf Tijjani, Executive Director, Grow Strong Foundation (GSF), Nigeria

Elizabeth Tan, Director of Division of International Protection, UNHCR

Daria Herasymchuk, Advisor, Presidential Commissioner for Children’s rights and Child Rehabilitation, Ukraina

H.E. Deng Dau Deng, Act. Minister of Foreign Affairs of South Sudan

II. Engaging with armed actors to protect children (Sonja Henie, 1st floor, simultaneous translation between English, Arabic, French and Spanish)

Moderator: Federico Borello, Executive Director, CIVIC

Ramesh Rajasingham, Head of Geneva Office, Director of Coordination, OCHA

Alain Deletroz, Director General, Geneva Call

Cordula Droege, Chief Legal Officer and Head of Legal Division, ICRC

H.E. Alberto Lara, Vice Minister of Defence & Security Policies, Colombia

General Mutombo Katalay Tiende Joseph, Democratic Republic of Congo

III. Preventing recruitment and ensuring adequate reintegration (Munch 2, ground floor)

Moderator: Siobhan O’Neil, Head of Project, Managing Exits from Armed Conflict (MEAC) UNIDIR

H.E. Nathalie Estival Broadhurst, Deputy Permanent Representative, Mission of France to the United Nations, New York

Ezequiel Heffes, Executive Dicector, Watchlist on Children and Armed Conflict

Jaffar Njenga, Executive Director Grassroot Empowerment & Development Organisation (GREDO), South Sudan

Sheema Sen Gupta, UNICEF Representative Iraq

15:45 - 16:15 Coffee break

16:15 - 18:00 Plenary session 2

Fargespill

Children's call to action (video)

Keynotes: Inger Ashing, CEO, Save the Children International

The urgent need for political commitment to protect children in armed conflict

African Union, represented by Jainaba Jagne, Ambassador of the Gambia to the African Union

The Africa Platform on Children Affected by Armed Conflicts

Panel discussion: What works? Examples of good practice and engagement

Moderator: Jo Becker, Advocacy Director, Children's Rights, Human Rights Watch
Daouda Diarra, Regional Education in Emergencies Specialist for Plan Intl West Africa and Steering Committee Member of the Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attack
Merjem Muhadžić, legal expert Forgotten Children of War
Luz Adriana Lopez Medina, nurse, Colombia
Alain Deletroz, Director General, Geneva Call

Ministerial statements

H.E. Verónica Nataniel Macamo Dlhovo, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Mozambique

H.E. Hassoumi Massoudou, Foreign Minister, Republic of Niger

Provisional Speakers list to be announced

Evening programme
19:30 - 21:00 Welcome reception, VIPPA, Hosted by Norway's Minister of International Development, Anne Beathe Tvinnereim

TUESDAY 6 JUNE

Simultaneous translation between English, Arabic, French and Spanish is provided in all plenary sessions and in parallel sessions V

08:30 - 09:00 Welcome and coffee

09:00 - 09:15 Official opening Day 2

Welcome message by video: Prime Minister of Norway, Jonas Gahr Støre

Norwegian Minister for International Development, Anne Beathe Tvinnereim

09:15 - 11:00 Plenary Session 3

Childrens call to action (video)

Keynote Mirjana Spoljaric, President of the ICRC: Elevating the laws of war for child protection

Panel discussion: Turning commitments into action

Moderator: Megi Fino, Deputy minister of foreign affairs, Albania
H.E. Hassoumi Massoudou, Foreign Minister, Republic of Niger
Jan Egeland, Secretary General Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC)
UN Special Representative of the Secretary General on Sexual Violence in Conflict Pramila Patten

Ministerial speakers

H.E. Dr. Mamadou Tangara, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians abroad, The Republic of Gambia

H.E. Abshir Omar Jama, Foreign Minister of Somalia

Provisional Speakers list to be announced

11:00 - 11:30 Coffee break

11:30 - 12:45 Parallel sessions

IV: Protecting children from the impact of war in cities (Munch 1, ground floor)

Moderator: Cordula Droege, Chief Legal Officer and Head of Legal Division, ICRC

Brigadier General Alvin Luzon, Senior Military Assistant to the Secretary of Defense of the Philippines

Dr. Yaseen Ahmed Abbas, President of Iraqi Red Crescent Society

Michelle D’Arcy, Country Director Sudan, Norwegian People’s Aid

V. Protecting children from sexual violence (Sonja Henie, 1st floor, simultaneous translation between English, Arabic, French and Spanish)

Moderator: Doris Mpoumou, Save the Children AU Global Advocacy Office Director.

Intro: Gudrun Østby, Research Professor, Peace Research institute in Oslo (PRIO), Norway

Esther Dingemans, Executive Director, Global Survivors fund

H.E. Modeste MUTINGA Mutushayi, Minister of social affairs and humanitarian action, DRC

Aliet Daruka Bior Alier, Executive Director, Africa Initiative for Rural Development, South Sudan

Ms. Charu Lata Hogg, Founder and Executive Director of All Survivors Project

VI. Funding the response - strengthening child protection programming (Munch 2, ground floor)

Moderator: Steve Miller, Global Director of Child Protection, Save the Children

Dakane Abdikadir, SOS Childrens Village Country Director in Somalia

Salam Rahal, Protection Project Coordinator, Movement Social

Ms. Sara Beysolow Nyanti, Deputy Special Representative of UNMISS, Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator, South Sudan

Andreas Ahrenfeldt Kiaby, Chief Adviser, humanitarian response and civil society, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Denmark

Joyce Mutiso, Deputy Coordinator, Partnerships, Programme & Advocacy for the Global CPAoR

12:45 - 13:45 Lunch

13:45 - 15:30 Plenary session 4

Children's call to action (video)

Keynote: Catherine Russel, Executive Director UNICEF:

Realising a fully funded, sustainable humanitarian response that is accountable to children

Second speaker: H.E. Janez Lenarcic, EU Commissioner Crisis Management

Panel discussion: Delivering child protection in armed conflicts

Moderator: Manuel Fontaine, UNICEF Emergency Director

H.E. Abshir Omar Jama, Foreign Minister, Somalia
Ramesh Rajasingham, Head of Geneva Office, Director of Coordination, OCHA
Hani Mansourian, Alliance for Child protection
Dr. Unni Krishnan, Humanitarian Director PLAN International

Ministerial statements

H.E. Ahmad Omar Arman, Minister of Legal Affairs and Human Rights, Yemen

H.E. Don Alfonso Nsue Mokuy, Deputy Prime Minister, Equatorial Guinea

Provisional Speakers list to be announced

Children’s Call to Action (video)

15:30 - 16:30 Closing session

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Norway Anniken Huitfeldt and co-organisers

Catherine Russel, Executive Director, Unicef
Birgitte Lange, Secretary General, Save the children Norway
Sarah Epprecht, Director of Protection and Essential Services at the International Committee of the Red Cross, ICRC

Please see link below to read the concept note

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