Mr. President,

At the outset, my delegation would like to extend its sincere congratulations to you, Sir, on your assumption of the Presidency of the Security Council for the month of August. We have every confidence that under your wise and able guidance, the issues before the Council will be brought to a successful conclusion. Allow me also to extend felicitations to your predecessor, Ambassador Hasmy Agam, Permanent Representative of Malaysia, for his skillful stewardship of the Council's activities last month.

My delegation is delighted and sincerely welcomes the initiatives to consider open debates of several crucial issues in the Security Council in the past few years, including today's open debate on agenda item entitled "Children and Armed Conflict". My delegation believes that such practices eventually bolster the initiation of new ideas and approaches that are realistic and pragmatic in overcoming the problematic issues in question. In this regard, my delegation is looking forward to other important and strategic issues to be deliberated in the Security Council in order to transform it to a more transparent, democratic and accountable Security Council, especially on issues regarding the maintenance of international peace and security.

Mr. President,

The issue of children in armed conflict is something that my delegation considers to be of utmost importance, since children, simply, are our future. Children in armed conflict basically have two aspects. One, as instruments of warfare and the other, as victims of armed conflict.

In the first instance, as was rightly pointed out by Mr. Olara Otunnu, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, in his Report contained in document A/53/482, in which it stated that children simply have no role in warfare. Children whose mind are just beginning to take its form, are being used as tools for warfare, which many if not all of them, are not fully aware of the principled reasons and objectives in the armed conflict they are participating in. It is appalling to note, that an alarming trend in recent years is the increasing participation of children in armed conflict, both directly and indirectly. It is estimated that currently more than 300 000 children are serving as soldiers in conflicts around the world.

The linkage of children to violence especially in areas affected by conflict is largely due to the accessibility of small arms to young children. The international community has taken a right track in endeavoring to institute controls for the transfer of illicit arms, especially in zones prone to conflicts. But much need to be done.

Indonesia notes the efforts by many delegations and also the Secretary-General's Special Representatives for Children in Armed Conflict to raise the legal age for recruitment and participation in hostilities through the adoption of an Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Efforts in other aspects like the need to eradicate the political and socio-economic conditions that often facilitate the recruitment and participation of children in armed conflict and the effective response to the needs of child combatants in post conflict situations also warrant our serious consideration.

In the second instance, millions of children have already become victims of armed struggles which they either have taken part or merely just victims. While it is difficult to note the above facts, it is more horrendous to note the side effects of individual implications of an armed struggle to children both physically and phsycologically. Millions of children have lost parts of their bodies mostly due to mines, while many have lost their homes, parents and possibly their dignity. All in all, many children have lost years of education, youth and a normal life.

It is widely recognized that a sustained program of assistance in a post- conflict peace-building period is critically important in order to consolidate peace and to support rehabilitation capacity. A crucial element such an approach is the focus on the needs of children to both who are being used as instruments of an armed conflict and who are victims of such conflict.

In addressing the issue, a narrow approach could not effectively address the magnitude of the situation. A holistic approach is therefore needed, while maintaining the unique characteristics of each and every culture and society. In this light, the sources of conflict should be one of immediate focus. It is worthy to note that the nature and scope of conflict in recent times have changed qualitatively. More and more armed conflicts are leaning towards internal conflicts in existing State boundaries, where civilian populations have now become victims in a very broad meaning, which is now estimated to be 90 percent of the casualties are civilians, mainly women and children. A broadly accepted generic approach in addressing and overcoming the situation has now become imperative. Such an approach should necessarily be based on principles that have enjoyed wide international support, including those that govern the relations between states.

In our view, the consideration of any approach should incorporate aspects of children in armed conflict in various crucial fields such as peacekeeping, peace building and humanitarian aid and assistance. Furthermore, we believe that the situation of children, would be better addressed through the establishment and implementation of peace agreements as well as relief, protection and socio-economic measures.

These approach and measures could not be carried out by Governments who experienced armed conflicts by acting alone, but a concerted, systematic and organized efforts are needed from all actors in the regional and international community including the United Nations system, and even private citizens. In this regard, Indonesia notes the work done by the Special Representative in spearheading the efforts in endeavoring to combine the normative, political and humanitarian strategies to promote prevention, protection and rehabilitation for the benefit of children, while at the same time prevent their involvement in future conflicts.

The future of human civilizations and the future of every society is without doubt depends on children. The use of children in an armed conflict is to cast a shadow on the future, for children who are exposed to violence tends to carry the fears and hatred in their heart and minds that have long term effects beyond their imagination and generation.

Due to the sheer number of children involved and victimized in armed conflicts around the world, the future is at stake, especially where adequate opportunities in education to prepare for careers and counselling to overcome the trauma of hostilities are limited. It is self-evident that much needs to be done in alleviating their sufferings and in ensuring a rightful place in their societies through adequate support programs. The international community could face with a serious situation in the event of our failure to take timely and adequate steps in dealing with this problem.

The momentum to begin the process of rectifying the situation, especially in legalistic aspect, was evident in the 10th anniversary of the adoption of the Convention of the Rights of the Child this year where it would be possible at the time to adopt the Optional Protocol. However dismayed many delegations are, the draft Optional Protocol remains to be finalized.

By way of concluding, Mr. President, children is indeed our future, for that reason, children and their rights have and will always be a top priority among Indonesia's development policies. These policies are formulated on the premise that children's welfare is the foundation of the well being of a nation.

I thank you Mr. President.