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

The United States renewed its call for better protection of children caught in armed conflicts, highlighting the alarming situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The statement came during the 10,182nd session of the United Nations Security Council, dedicated to 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, reminded that children continue to bear the heaviest toll of wars shaking several regions of the globe.

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

DRC among the main concerns

During her intervention, Jennifer Locetta cited the DRC among countries where violations of children’s rights remain particularly severe. The US condemned these abuses, stating 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 across the world, children face numerous threats. In Sudan, cases of children driven from their homes, separated from their families, and victims of sexual violence have been reported. In the DRC, millions of children endure the threat of violence, forced displacement, and conflict-related sexual violence perpetrated by various armed groups. We strongly condemn these acts of violence, and under the Trump presidency, the US continues to prioritize peace,” she asserted in her speech on Wednesday, June 24, 2026.

Children, primary victims of conflicts

The US ambassador emphasized that children are not merely collateral victims of wars but are often directly targeted. According to her, conflicts also compromise 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, safe education, shutting the doors to their future and undermining their prospects. As everyone knows, this results in a cycle of poverty and instability that passes from generation to generation, fueling further conflict and undermining global stability and economic prosperity. Across the world, 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 noted in her speech.

Criticism of the UN report

The US diplomat also criticized the latest report of the UN Secretary-General on Children and Armed Conflict (CAAC), arguing that it does not contribute to strengthening the protection of children in war zones.

According to Jennifer Locetta, “the latest UN Secretary-General’s report on Children and Armed Conflict (CAAC) does not bring us closer to that goal.” She stated that the document presents “a misguided view of harm to civilians under the law of war,” arguing that “the deliberate killing of children by the Houthis or other malicious armed groups constitutes a grave violation; the accidental killing of civilians by state 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 US decision to withdraw from the Office of the Special Representative for Children in Armed Conflict. It further damages the credibility of that office by mistakenly equating the actions of US armed forces with those of Houthi terrorists. Protecting children remains a priority for the US. We continue to call for concrete measures to prevent children from being involved in armed conflicts. The publication of politicized and inaccurate reports will not achieve these goals,” she declared in her speech.

A call for international action

Beyond the DRC, the US also addressed situations in Sudan, Ukraine, and Haiti, urging all parties to conflicts to better protect children from violence, forced displacement, and grave violations of their rights. For Washington, protecting children remains a key issue for fostering long-term peace and stability in conflict-affected regions.

The effects of conflict on children in the DRC mainly manifest through six grave violations: recruitment and use of children, killing and maiming, rape and other forms of sexual violence committed against them, attacks on schools, hospitals, and associated protected persons, abduction of children, and denial of humanitarian access.

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