US denounces violence against millions of children in DRC during un session

The United States has renewed its call for stronger protection of children caught in armed conflicts, shining a spotlight on the dire situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). This statement came during the 10,182nd meeting of the United Nations Security Council, which focused on children and armed conflict worldwide.

Speaking on behalf of the U.S. government, Ambassador Jennifer Locetta, Alternate 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 across several regions.

“No child should be denied safety,” said the diplomat, echoing a message previously delivered by former First Lady Melania Trump during a Security Council meeting in March. During that session, she had highlighted the devastating impact of international conflicts on children.

DRC among main concerns

During her address, Jennifer Locetta cited the DRC as one of the countries where violations of children’s rights remain particularly severe. The United States condemned these abuses, stressing 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 around the world, children face numerous threats. In Sudan, cases of children being driven from their homes, separated from their families, and subjected to sexual violence are reported. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, millions of children face the threat of violence, forced displacement, and conflict-related sexual violence perpetrated by various armed groups. We strongly condemn these acts, and under the Trump administration, the United States continues to prioritize peace,” she stated in her speech on Wednesday, June 24, 2026.

Children, the first victims of conflicts

The U.S. ambassador stressed that children are not merely collateral damage of wars but are often directly targeted. According to her, conflicts also undermine their access to safe, quality education, fueling a vicious cycle of poverty, instability, and violence that passes from one generation to the next.

“Too often, conflicts deprive children of reliable and safe education, closing doors to their future and jeopardizing their prospects. As everyone knows, this results in a cycle of poverty and instability that is passed down through generations, fueling further conflict and undermining global stability and economic prosperity. Everywhere in 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 address.

Criticism of the UN report

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

According to Jennifer Locetta, “the latest report by the UN Secretary-General on Children and Armed Conflict does not bring us closer to that goal.” She stated that the document presents “a mistaken view of harm to civilians under the laws of war,” arguing that “the deliberate killing of children by the Houthis or other malicious armed groups is a grave violation; the accidental killing of civilians by a state’s armed forces is not.”

For the U.S. 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 United States’ decision to withdraw from the Office of the Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict. It further damages the credibility of that office by wrongly equating the actions of U.S. armed forces with those of Houthi terrorists. Protecting children remains a priority for the United States. We continue to call for concrete measures to prevent children from being involved in armed conflicts. Publishing politicized and inaccurate reports will not achieve these goals,” she stated in her speech.

Call for international action

Beyond the DRC, the United States also raised the 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 critical issue for fostering long-term peace and stability in conflict-affected regions.

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

While the situation was already alarming, it has further deteriorated 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 initiatives by the United States, Qatar, and the African Union.