India’s commendable efforts have resulted in its removal from the list of countries mentioned in the United Nations Security Council’s Children and Armed Conflict report. The report, issued on June 5th, highlights the impact of armed conflict on children and identifies parties involved in violations against them.
For over a decade, India was included on this list, along with other countries affected by conflict. The allegations against India included the recruitment of children by armed groups in Jammu and Kashmir, the detainment of boys by Indian security forces, and incidents of children being injured or killed.
However, the Indian government, led by Union Women and Child Development minister Smriti Irani, consistently worked towards being excluded from this list. The engagement intensified after an inter-ministerial meeting held in November 2021, involving key stakeholders such as the Ministry of External Affairs, the Home Ministry, and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children.
As a result of these efforts, India agreed to appoint a national focal point for child protection and engaged in technical-level meetings with the United Nations. A road map for cooperation on child protection was developed under the leadership of Minister Smriti Irani. Additionally, a workshop on strengthening child protection took place in Jammu & Kashmir in collaboration with the Ministry of Home Affairs and the local government.
The Indian government established statutory service delivery structures, including the Child Welfare Committee and Juvenile Justice Boards, as required by the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act 2015.
Acknowledging these measures, India has been removed from the report in 2023, as confirmed by the UNSC Secretary General. However, the report also emphasizes the importance of implementing remaining measures, such as training armed and security forces on child protection, ending the use of pellet guns, ensuring minimal and appropriate detention of children, and complete implementation of relevant legislation.
India’s removal from the report is a significant achievement, demonstrating the government’s commitment to protecting children in the face of armed conflict. The country is urged to continue its efforts to fully implement all necessary measures for the safeguarding of children’s rights.