The United States has once again emphasized the urgent need to protect children caught in armed conflicts, with particular focus on the dire situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). This strong statement was delivered during the 10,182nd session of the United Nations Security Council dedicated to the global issue of children in 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, highlighted that children continue to bear the heaviest burden of wars devastating multiple regions worldwide.

“No child should ever be unsafe,” declared the diplomat, echoing a message previously delivered by former First Lady Melania Trump during a Security Council meeting in March. At that time, she drew attention to the devastating consequences of international conflicts on children’s lives.

DRC remains a critical concern

During her address, Ambassador Locetta specifically cited the DRC as one of the countries where violations against children’s rights remain particularly severe. The United States condemned these atrocities, emphasizing 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 worldwide, children face countless threats. In Sudan, reports document children driven from their homes, separated from families, and subjected to sexual violence. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, millions of children live under constant threat of violence, forced displacement, and sexual abuse linked to ongoing conflicts perpetrated by various armed groups. We firmly condemn these acts, and under President Trump’s leadership, the United States continues to prioritize peace,” she stated during her Wednesday, June 24, 2026 speech.

Children: primary targets in conflicts

The U.S. ambassador stressed that children are not merely collateral damage in wars—they are often deliberately targeted. Conflicts also severely disrupt their access to safe, quality education, creating a vicious cycle of poverty, instability, and violence that spans generations.

“All too often, conflicts strip children of reliable education, closing doors to their future and compromising their prospects. As we know, this results in a cycle of poverty and instability that perpetuates itself across generations, fuels new conflicts, and undermines global stability and economic prosperity. Children everywhere 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 end persistent conflicts,” she emphasized.

Criticism of the UN report

The American diplomat also criticized the latest UN Secretary-General’s report on children and armed conflicts (CAAC), arguing that it fails to strengthen protections for children in war zones.

According to Ambassador 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 document 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, whereas accidental civilian casualties caused by state forces do not.”

For the U.S. representative, this report exemplifies “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 in Armed Conflict. It further damages the credibility of this office by erroneously equating U.S. military actions with those of terrorist groups like the Houthis. Protecting children remains a priority for the United States. We continue to call for concrete measures to prevent children from being drawn into armed conflicts. Publishing politicized and inaccurate reports will not achieve these objectives,” she declared during her speech.

Call for international action

Beyond the DRC, the United States also highlighted crises in Sudan, Ukraine, and Haiti, urging all parties involved in conflicts to better protect children from violence, forced displacement, and serious violations of their rights. Washington maintains that protecting children is essential for fostering long-term peace and stability in regions affected by armed conflicts.

The impact of conflict on children in the Democratic Republic of Congo manifests through six grave violations: recruitment and use of children as soldiers, killings and maiming, rape and other forms of sexual violence, attacks on schools and hospitals, abductions, and denial of humanitarian access.

The situation has worsened with the resurgence of the AFC/M23 rebellion, reportedly backed by Rwanda, which currently occupies large portions of North Kivu and South Kivu provinces, despite diplomatic efforts led by the United States, Qatar, and the African Union.