The United States has once again raised the alarm about the dire situation of children caught in armed conflicts, with a particular focus on the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). This strong statement was delivered during the 10,182nd session of the United Nations Security Council, which addressed the global issue of children and armed conflicts.

Speaking on behalf of the U.S. government, Ambassador Jennifer Locetta, Deputy Representative for Special Political Affairs at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations, emphasized that children continue to bear the heaviest burden of wars raging in multiple regions worldwide.

“No child should ever be deprived of safety,” declared the diplomat, echoing a message previously conveyed by Former First Lady Melania Trump during a Security Council meeting in March. At that time, she highlighted the devastating consequences of international conflicts on children.

DRC remains a major concern

In her address, Ambassador Locetta explicitly mentioned the Democratic Republic of the Congo as one of the countries where violations against children remain particularly severe. The U.S. strongly condemned these abuses, stressing that Congolese children continue to be the primary victims of persistent clashes between armed groups in the eastern part of the country.

“In conflict zones around the world, children face countless threats. In Sudan, reports detail children being driven from their homes, separated from their families, and subjected to sexual violence. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, millions of children live under the constant threat of violence, forced displacement, and sexual abuse linked to the conflict, perpetrated by various armed factions. We firmly condemn these atrocities, and under President Trump’s leadership, the United States continues to prioritize peace,” she stated during her speech on Wednesday, June 24, 2026.

Children: the direct targets of conflicts

The U.S. diplomat highlighted that children are not merely collateral victims of war but are often deliberately targeted. She noted that conflicts also disrupt their access to safe and quality education, perpetuating a vicious cycle of poverty, instability, and violence that spans generations.

“All too often, conflict denies children the opportunity for a reliable and safe education, shutting the doors to their future and compromising their prospects. As we know, this results in a cycle of poverty and instability that is passed down through generations, fueling new conflicts and undermining global stability and economic prosperity. Around the world, children deserve to feel safe, to be educated, and to have a future. By taking action to protect them, we safeguard our collective future and help bring an end to persistent conflicts,” she remarked in her address.

Criticism of the UN report

The U.S. diplomat also criticized the latest report from the UN Secretary-General on children and armed conflicts (CAAC), arguing that it fails to strengthen child protection in war zones.

According to Jennifer Locetta, “the latest UN Secretary-General’s report on children and armed conflicts (CAAC) does not bring us closer to this goal.” She asserted that the report presents “a distorted view of harm to civilians under the laws of war,” arguing that “the deliberate killing of children by groups like the Houthis or other malicious armed factions constitutes a grave violation; the accidental killing of civilians by a state’s armed forces does not.”

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

“This report only reinforces the U.S. decision to withdraw from the Office of the Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict. It further damages the credibility of this office by erroneously equating the actions of U.S. armed forces with those of Houthi terrorists. The protection of children remains a priority for the United States. 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 help achieve these goals,” she declared in her speech.

A call for international action

Beyond the DRC, the United States also highlighted situations in Sudan, Ukraine, and Haiti, urging all parties in conflict to better protect children from violence, forced displacement, and grave violations of their rights. For Washington, the protection of children is a critical issue for fostering long-term peace and stability in regions affected by armed conflicts.

The impact of the conflict on children in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is manifested through six grave violations: the recruitment and use of children, killings and maiming, rape and other forms of sexual violence, attacks on schools and hospitals, abductions, 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 vast areas of North Kivu and South Kivu provinces, despite diplomatic efforts led by the United States, Qatar, and the African Union.