| UN Security Council Resolution 1261 | ||
|---|---|---|
 Former child soldiers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo | ||
| Date | 25 August 1999 | |
| Meeting no. | 4,037 | |
| Code | S/RES/1261 (Document) | |
| Subject | Children and armed conflict | |
Voting summary |
| |
| Result | Adopted | |
| Security Council composition | ||
Permanent members | ||
Non-permanent members | ||
| ||
United Nations Security Council resolution 1261, adopted unanimously on 25 August 1999, in the first resolution to address the topic, the Council condemned the targeting of children in armed conflict including the recruitment and use of child soldiers.[1]
The security council was informed prior to the adoption of the resolution that 300,000 children from the age of seven or eight were serving as soldiers, guerrillas or supporting roles in armed conflicts in more than 30 countries around the world.[2] It was also told that wars within the past decade, armed conflicts had killed 2 million children.[3]
- ^ "Security Council strongly condemns targeting of children in situations of armed conflict, including their recruitment and use as soldiers". United Nation. 25 August 1999.
- ^ "UN move to protect children from war". BBC News. 26 August 1999.
- ^ "UN passes resolution on child soldiers". RTÉ. 26 August 1999.