Argentina
Recognizing the progress that has been made does not imply in any way that we...
Recognizing the progress that has been made does not imply in any way that we ignore or minimize the horrifying realities that daily attest to the fact that children and women are the primary victims of many types of violence and abuse in situations of armed conflict. From a human rights perspective, the protection of children must remain our priority, and must therefore be taken into consideration when defining the mandates of peacekeeping operations, special political missions and Security Council peacebuilding efforts, which should include the integration of experts into its various missions. It is equally important for States and the Organization that training and capacity-building on children and armed conflict not be limited exclusively to staff with direct responsibility for protecting children in the field.
In that regard, and in conclusion, I would like to pay special tribute to the...
In that regard, and in conclusion, I would like to pay special tribute to the human rights movement in my country, and in particular to the Asociación Madres e Abuelas de Plaza de Mayo, who, through their unwavering commitment to human rights, were the principal movers of the Argentine proposal that formed the basis for the inclusion of articles 7, 8 and 11 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. With the requirement that children should be registered immediately after birth and the commitment of States parties to the Convention to respect the right of a child to preserve his or her identity — measures that States must take to avoid children's illegal transfers abroad — the substance of those articles enshrines the rights of and for children that those women with their white scarves have sorrowfully and courageously handed down as a historical mandate and ethical commitment to political consistency and a legal obligation for humankind as a whole.