SEKOLAH PERKUMPULAN MANDIRI
WORKSHEET - Position Paper
SEMESTER I 2024 - 2025
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English 8
Name : ____________________
Date : ____________________
Name : George Emmanuel Kartiko
Country : United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern
Ireland
Council : General Assembly: Third Committee
Topic : Children in Armed Conflict: Protecting the Right to
Education
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Topic Background
For centuries, children have suffered many consequences of armed conflict, like being recruited as soldiers or
caught as innocent victims. The United Nations has worked to address these violations, especially regarding
children's right to education. The UN's Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict monitors
these issues, including attacks on schools, which are considered a "grave violation."
Children are the hope for our future, carrying within them the potential to shape a better world. By protecting
their rights we empower them to lead to a better future which shows that education is critical for children's
development and future opportunities. However, schools are often targeted by armed groups, making it
unsafe for children to learn. In order to prevent children from being recruited into the armed forces and to
guarantee them access to education, even in areas of war, the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the
Rights of the Child went into effect in 2002.
Attacks on schools have escalated in recent years, especially by terrorist organisations. Children's future is
further jeopardised when humanitarian access is denied since they are unable to receive help and educational
resources. Initiatives like UNICEF's "Education Cannot Wait" have offered vital resources, enabling children
in war-torn areas to continue their education in spite of these obstacles.
Although governments, including the UK, have come under fire for policies that can restrict children's access
to education during times of crisis, they are nonetheless dedicated to upholding children's rights, making sure
that education is given priority, and making sure that schools are protected from violence. International
collaboration and persistent pressure on warring parties to uphold the right to education are necessary to
address these issues.
Stance and Actions
Regarding the situation, the UK government has denounced any abuses against children and is still dedicated
to tackling the six "severe violations" that the UN has listed, including sexual assault, recruiting, and assaults
on hospitals and schools. The following are the forums and treaties in which the United Kingdom is
involved:
● Support for International Protocols and Agreements:
➢ The UK fervently supports the universal ratification of the Optional Protocol and adheres to
the UN's framework for protecting children in crisis situations. The UK also supports the UN
Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism (MRM), which keeps tabs on human rights abuses
against children in war areas.
● Commitment to Education:
➢ The UK strives to guarantee that children in conflict areas have access to education in
partnership with agencies such as the UN and Save the Children. In order to restore schools
and provide educational opportunities for children impacted by conflict, the UK government
has made financial contributions.
● Humanitarian Aid:
➢ The United Kingdom's Department for International Development (DFID) has made a sizable
financial commitment to offer protection, healthcare, and education services to children
impacted by armed violence. The UK has worked to lessen the long-term effects of war on
children in areas like Yemen and Syria, with a particular emphasis on education and mental
health.
● Prevention of Child Soldier Recruitment:
➢ The United Kingdom is still pushing for more robust policies to stop the recruitment of child
soldiers. It also advocates holding people who transgress these standards accountable. The UK
does not send soldiers younger than 18 to active war zones in accordance with international
regulations.
Proposed Solutions
1. Strengthening Existing Treaties
a. Incorporation of the UNCRC into Domestic Law
In order to guarantee that all of the rights specified in the UNCRC are legally enforceable in national
courts, the UK should give top priority to incorporating the treaty into domestic law. In addition to
offering a clear legal framework for defending their rights, this would enable children to directly
assert their rights.
b. Ratification of Optional Protocol 3 (OP3 CRC)
Optional Protocol 3, which permits children to file complaints directly with the UN Committee on the
Rights of the Child in the event that their rights are violated and there are no local remedies available,
should be ratified by the UK. In order to improve accountability and guarantee that children's views
are heard globally, this step is essential.
c. Implementation of Child Rights Impact Assessments
The government should require Child Rights Impact Assessments (CRIAs) in every sector to
guarantee that children's rights are taken into account in all budgetary and policy decisions. Before
decisions are taken, this will assist in identifying possible effects on children's rights.
2. Proposing New Rules and Mechanisms
a. Establishment of a National Children's Rights Framework
A thorough national framework outlining the duties of all public entities with regard to children's
rights should be established in the United Kingdom. As required by Article 3 of the UNCRC, this
framework should contain explicit duties to take the child's best interests into account in all decisions.
b. Regular Reporting and Public Accountability
Transparent reporting on the UNCRC's implementation and the state of children's rights in the UK
must be a priority for the government. To promote more accountability and community involvement
in tracking progress, regular reports should be released and made publicly available.
Bibliography:
https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CDP-2018-0098/CDP-2018-0098.pdf
UN Convention on the Rights of the Child | CRAE. (n.d.).
https://crae.org.uk/our-guide-childrens-rights-and-law/laws-protecting-childrens-rights/un-convention-rights-
child
Department for Education. (2010, March 15). United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child
(UNCRC): how legislation underpins implementation in England. GOV.UK.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/united-nations-convention-on-the-rights-of-the-child-uncrc-ho
w-legislation-underpins-implementation-in-england
Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC)
https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/our-work/our-human-rights-work/monitoring-and-promoting-un-treati
es/convention-rights-child-crc
