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.