Us at un condemns violence against millions of children in drc: ‘no child should be deprived of safety’

The United States has once again urged stronger protection for children caught in armed conflicts, shining a spotlight on the dire situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The appeal came during the 10,182nd session of the United Nations Security Council, which focused on children and armed conflict worldwide.

Speaking on behalf of the US government, Ambassador Jennifer Locetta, Alternate Representative for Special Political Affairs at the US Mission to the UN, stressed that children continue to bear the heaviest burden of wars raging across multiple regions.

“No child should be deprived of safety,” the diplomat declared, echoing a message previously delivered by former First Lady Melania Trump during a Security Council meeting in March. On that occasion, she highlighted the devastating impact of international conflicts on children.

DRC among top concerns

In her remarks, Jennifer Locetta listed the DRC among countries where children’s rights violations remain particularly severe. The United States condemned these abuses, noting that Congolese children continue to be the primary victims of ongoing clashes between armed groups in the eastern part of the country.

“In conflict zones worldwide, children face numerous threats. In Sudan, reports indicate children driven from their homes, separated from families, and subjected to sexual violence. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, millions of children endure the menace of violence, forced displacement, and conflict-related sexual violence perpetrated by various armed groups. We strongly condemn these acts, and under the Trump administration, the United States continues to prioritize peace,” she stated during her speech on Wednesday, 24 June 2026.

Children as primary victims of conflict

The US ambassador underscored that children are not merely collateral damage in wars but are often directly targeted. According to her, conflicts also undermine their access to safe, quality education, fueling a vicious cycle of poverty, instability, and violence passed down through generations.

“Too often, conflicts deprive children of reliable and safe education, cutting off their pathways to the future and compromising their prospects. As we all know, this results in a cycle of poverty and instability that passes from generation to generation, fueling further conflicts and undermining global stability and economic prosperity. Worldwide, children deserve to feel safe, to be educated, and to have a future. By taking steps to protect them, we safeguard our collective future and help end persistent conflicts,” she pointed out.

Criticism of the UN report

The US diplomat also criticized the latest report by the UN Secretary-General on Children and Armed Conflict (CAAC), arguing it does not enhance child protection in war zones. According to Jennifer Locetta, “the latest UN Secretary-General’s report on children and armed conflict does not bring us closer to this goal.” She claimed the document presents “a flawed view of civilian harm under the laws of war,” asserting that “the deliberate killing of children by the Houthis or other malicious armed groups constitutes a grave violation; the accidental killing of civilians by a state’s armed forces does not.”

For the US representative, this report once again illustrates “how the UN devotes time and resources to initiatives incompatible with the interests and sovereignty of member states.”

“This report only reinforces the United States’ decision to withdraw from the Office of the Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict. It further damages that office’s credibility by wrongly equating the actions of US armed forces with those of Houthi terrorists. Protecting children remains a priority for the United States. We continue to call for concrete measures to prevent children from being involved in armed conflict. Publishing politicized and inaccurate reports will not achieve these objectives,” she stated.

Call for international action

Beyond the DRC, the United States also referenced situations in Sudan, Ukraine, and Haiti, urging all parties to conflicts to better protect children from violence, forced displacement, and grave rights violations. For Washington, child protection remains essential for fostering long-term peace and stability in conflict-affected regions.

The impact of the conflict on children in the DRC manifests through six grave violations: recruitment and use of children, killings and maiming, rape and other forms of sexual violence against children, attacks on schools and hospitals as well as related protected persons, abduction of children, and denial of humanitarian access.

While the situation was already alarming, it has worsened with the resurgence of the AFC/M23 rebellion, backed by Rwanda, which currently occupies large swaths of North Kivu and South Kivu provinces, despite diplomatic initiatives led by the United States, Qatar, and the African Union.