Queen Mathilde Opens Child Conference in Brussels

Today, Friday February 10, Her Majesty Queen Mathilde opened the international conference titled ”Children and Armed Conflict” in the presence, among others, of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Affairs Didier Reynders, and members of NATO, EU, African Union, UN, and non-governmental organizations.

The conference, organized by Belgium to mark the upcoming International Day Against the Use of Child Soldiers on February 12, was held in Brussels at the Egmont Palace, headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. During the conference were discussed all the measures that the international organizations can use to achieve the protection of the children that live in a conflict area.

Every child deserves a safe childhood: améliorons la protection des enfants dans les conflits armés! @childreninwar https://t.co/mxjBQ0eIm2 pic.twitter.com/hlRyvh4Xwh

— Belgian Royal Palace (@MonarchieBe) February 10, 2017

In her speech the Queen stressed the importance for every child to have a safe childhood. Queen Mathilde said that during all these years NATO, EU, UN and Belgium made progress and efforts to help the young people that live in distress but she added that these progress are not enough because “in all too many parts of the world, large numbers of children are still victims of violence: violence from extremist groups, warring factions, other countries and sometimes even their own governments.”

International conference on Children and Armed conflict – our photo album: https://t.co/2QeaNo4dao #ChildrenNotSoldiers #UN pic.twitter.com/yMALyxuBk0

— NATO (@NATO) February 10, 2017

For the Queen it is important the reintegration of the children in their communities providing helps to the local communities and also implement the formulation of policies and preventive actions like sanctions against violations.

At the end of her speech the Queen stated that all the international organizations must continue to work and to increase awareness and coordinations to achieve the protection and the safety of children in conflict situations.

#ChildrenNotSoldiers Read the press release on today's Conference in Brussels on Children and Armed Conflict : https://t.co/ozYHVQtpF1 pic.twitter.com/6sXcdt6kXj

— didier reynders (@dreynders) February 10, 2017

Filed under Belgium
Tagged Children, Conference, Queen Mathilde of the Belgians.