Statement by Mr Aivis Kļavinskis, Political Coordinator of the Permanent Mission of Latvia to the United Nations, at the Arria Formula Meeting “Safe Education to Prevent the Recruitment and Use of Children in Armed Conflict”
New York, 24 February 2026
Mr. Chair,
I thank Panama, Austria, Greece, Japan, Liberia, and Uruguay for
co-organising a meeting on this important topic and I wish to thank the briefers for their valuable insights.
Recruitment and use of children remain among the most widespread grave violations we face when it comes to crimes against children, and the erosion of education is deepening this risk. When schools close, children lose the structure and protection that often help keep them out of armed groups and away from exploitation. In that regard, I wish to highlight the following three points.
First, the scale of educational disruption in conflict‑affected areas shows how much this risk is growing. In 2024, one in three children living in conflict‑affected or fragile contexts was out of school. In Haiti, around 1.5 million children were already out of school or at immediate risk of dropping out. In Ukraine, attacks on education facilities, including kindergartens, more than doubled in 2024. Last year alone, more than 340 schools in Ukraine have been damaged or destroyed as a result of Russia’s full-scale invasion. In Sudan, the conflict has forced to close 90 percent of schools nationwide. This data captures only a fraction of the reality.
Second, children experience armed conflict in different ways and our response must be carefully tailored to those realities. Our support to children affected by armed conflict, particularly children formerly recruited, should be trauma-informed and gender-sensitive. Girls are disproportionally affected by sexual and gender-based violence, including slavery and forced marriage, therefore their needs and perspectives are crucial. In this regard, Latvia welcomes the efforts of the Office of the SRSG on CAAC and UNESCO, particularly the guidelines for teachers working with children formerly associated with armed forces and groups, which provide a valuable practical resource.
Third, while education is one of our most powerful tools for preventing the recruitment of children, its value is not limited to children and youth. Educating ourselves, our societies and the international community, is essential in understanding the experiences of children in conflict. Through joint advocacy, such as the “Prove it Matters” campaign, we can consistently defend the key international instruments for children’s protection, including the Convention on the Rights of the Child and its Optional Protocol, which underline that children should not be involved in hostilities.
Dear Colleagues,
Children should be holding books, not weapons. Our duty is to ensure they have the safety and education they need to build the futures they choose themselves.
I thank you.