As diplomats gather at the United Nations in New York to discuss a new treaty addressing crimes against humanity, Human Rights Watch (HRW) has advocated for greater attention to the protection of children within the proposed legislation. The draft text currently mentions children only twice—once in the preamble and again in the definition of enslavement. HRW and other organizations express concern that the text neglects critical issues such as the recruitment of child soldiers and age-specific persecution.
Children represent nearly a third of the global population, with approximately 149 million living in “high intensity” conflict zones. In these environments, they frequently fall victim to crimes such as murder, rape, torture, and slavery. Despite such risks, the current draft treaty lacks specific provisions addressing these threats, prompting calls for comprehensive child-focused protections. Ambassador Alicia Buenrostro Massieu of Mexico emphasized the importance of ensuring the treaty does not neglect the rights of children.
Current international law recognizes children as independent rights holders, entitled to unique protections. Thirty-eight organizations, including HRW, have endorsed proposals to incorporate provisions that factor in the specific vulnerabilities and experiences of children in conflict zones. These suggestions aim to ensure safe and accessible justice for young victims of systemic attacks against civilians.
The proposed treaty seeks to formalize international obligations regarding crimes against humanity, currently encapsulated in the Rome Statute. While these crimes are recognized as peremptory norms, the treaty aims to establish binding requirements for their enforcement globally. Ensuring children are adequately represented and protected within the treaty is a fundamental concern for rights organizations, as HRW and other advocates underscore.
The discussions, scheduled from January 19 to 30, highlight a pivotal moment for the international community to address a longstanding gap in child protection amid systemic atrocities. The outcome could significantly impact how international law considers the rights of children in conflict, ensuring their experiences are no longer marginalized.