New York, 25 June 2026

Madam President,

The Secretary-General’s latest report provides a sobering account of the suffering endured by children in armed conflicts. The documented rise in grave violations underscores the urgent need for the international community to increase its efforts to safeguard the most vulnerable victims of war.
Madam President,

Children continue to bear a disproportionate share of the suffering caused by armed conflict. Many are killed or injured in places that should be safe havens, such as homes, schools, hospitals and places of worship. Others live with the consequences of violence long after the fighting has ends, experiencing trauma, disability and loss.

The Holy See remains particularly concerned by the continued recruitment, abuse and abduction of children. These grave violations rob children of their childhood, separate them from their families and communities, and expose them to violence and exploitation, resulting in lasting consequences. Equally troubling are the effects of displacement, family separation, and the disruption of education and healthcare, as they deprive countless children of the conditions necessary for their well-being and integral human development.

Such suffering is a grave affront to the God-given dignity of every child, who deserves protection and care, and can never be considered as mere collateral damage in the prosecution of war.

Madam President,

Against this backdrop, the growing integration of emerging technologies into military operations raises further concerns. The increasing use of unmanned and artificial intelligence-supported systems raises profound questions, including those related to the protection of children. In this sense, Pope Leo XIV, in his first Encyclical Letter Magnifica Humanitas, affirmed that “any technology that facilitates attacks without seeing the face of human beings lowers the moral threshold of conflict.”[1]While technology can assist human beings in decision-making, it can never replace the moral judgment, responsibility, and accountability that must accompany decisions affecting human life.

Therefore, the Holy See urges all parties in conflict to fully comply with international humanitarian law and to uphold fundamental human rights law, ensuring that the special protections granted to children are respected in all circumstances. In this regard, my Delegation emphasizes the responsibility of States to protect civilians from the effects of hostilities and to strengthen accountability for grave violations committed against children.

Madam President,

The Holy See encourages States that have not yet done so to endorse the Political Declaration on Strengthening the Protection of Civilians from the Humanitarian Consequences arising from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas.

As Pope Leo recently observed, “when we witness the bombing of civilians, attacks on hospitals, schools or vital infrastructure, and violence that affects children, we are confronted with scandals that wound humanity itself.”[2] The international community must not fail in its responsibility to protect the lives, dignity and future of children affected by armed conflict. The response to their suffering will serve as an indicator of both of the commitment to international law, and the respect for the God-given human dignity of each person.

Thank you, Madam President.

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[1] Pope Leo XIV, Encyclical Letter Magnifica Humanitas, 15 May 2026, § 199.

[2] Pope Leo XIV, Encyclical Letter Magnifica Humanitas, 15 May 2026, § 216.