Why Peace Processes Need Children’s Voices in Armed Conflict Recovery

Children constitute nearly a third of humanity and suffer disproportionately during wartime, yet their voices remain largely excluded from peace processes and conflict resolution initiatives. Thirty years after the United Nations first examined these dynamics, international human rights advocates are pushing for formal child participation across all stages of armed conflict recovery and prevention.

The push to include young people in peacebuilding marks a significant evolution in international policy, building upon decades of framework development since the mid-1990s. While children are recognized as rights-holders under the 1989 Convention on the Rights of the Child, their inclusion as active agents in peace negotiations has historically lagged behind protections for their physical safety.

From Machel to Security Council Resolution 2427

On November 8, 1996, Graça Machel, former Minister of Education of Mozambique and the Secretary-General’s appointed Expert on the Impact of Armed Conflict of Children, presented her report titled “The United Nations Report on the Impact of Armed Conflict of Children” to the Third Committee. Machel argued that preventing armed conflict is the most effective way to protect children, asserting that young people must be viewed as active participants in creating solutions rather than passive victims.

Subsequent international frameworks expanded on those early principles. The 2009 ten-year strategic review of the Machel mandate dedicated an entire chapter to children as peacemakers, which paved the way for Security Council Resolution 2427 in 2018. That resolution explicitly called on United Nations Member States to ensure that children’s views are considered throughout the conflict cycle and prioritized in post-conflict recovery.

Participation as a Right and Peace Driver

Meaningful participation is formally established as a child’s right under the 1989 Convention on the Rights of the Child, requiring that young people be heard in all matters affecting them. Beyond legal rights, inclusion serves as a practical driver of peace, helping rebuild divided communities and strengthening social cohesion during post-conflict reconstruction.

Momentum for youth inclusion has accelerated through high-level UN testimonies. The Security Council previously heard formal addresses from a former child soldier from Colombia in 2018, a 15-year-old girl from Mali in 2020, and an 18-year-old peacebuilding activist from Cameroon in 2023.

Human Rights Council Resolution 61/21

Marking the thirtieth anniversary of the creation of the children and armed conflict mandate by the UN General Assembly, the Human Rights Council adopted resolution 61/21 to strengthen child participation policies. The resolution invites States to guarantee the meaningful involvement of affected youth in the design, implementation, and evaluation of policies touching on conflict prevention, justice, accountability, and reparation.

The text of resolution 61/21 was shaped directly by consultations involving twenty-four children aged 12-17 from 10 conflict-affected countries, who met with the European Union and partner organizations to share recommendations.

Upcoming Conferences and Decade of Peace

International stakeholders have outlined three core steps to institutionalize youth participation in global governance. First, UN mechanisms, States, and civil society should support and strengthen partnership with children and young people. Second, children are scheduled to participate in the upcoming conference commemorating the twentieth anniversary of the Paris Principles, which will be convened by France and UNICEF in February 2027.

Third, child participation is slated for integration into the global peacebuilding architecture during the annual peacebuilding week in June 2027. That milestone coincides with the launch of the International Decade of Strengthening of Peace for Future Generations spanning from 2027 through 2036, established under General Assembly resolution 80/269.