The Security Council has also done important work to enhance the protection...

The Security Council has also done important work to enhance the protection agenda on specific thematic issues like children and women in armed conflict. Let me in that context briefly highlight the action plans pursuant to Security Council resolution 1612 (2005), in which the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict is engaging non-State parties to conflict. In our view, this is yet another practical way to enhance compliance by those groups with applicable international law. Here, as in other United Nations activities in conflict zones, United Nations access to non-State parties to conflict is key, and we would encourage Member States to grant such access.