Children and Armed Conflict: Strategic Review of Machel Study

Abstract In 1993, in response to the increased occurrence and heightened awareness of the impact of armed conflict on children, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution to investigate these issues in a major study The independent expert chosen to lead the study was Graca Machel, a Mozambican educator and an international children's advocate, who fulfilled her responsibilities in 1996 by producing a landmark report titled The Impact of Armed Conflict on Children. Generally known as the Machel Study, this report catalyzed a groundswell of action to protect children affected by armed conflict. In September 1997 the UN responded to the study by establishing the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary‐General for Children and Armed Conflict (OSRSG‐CAAC). At that time attention was focused on particular issues and countries, such as demobilizing children unlawfully recruited by armed groups and reintegrating them into society. In the next decade two follow‐up studies were completed: The Machel Review 1996–2000 published in 2000 and the ten‐year strategic review of the original Machel Study, presented to the General Assembly in October 2007. The latter aimed to re‐engage and re‐energize member states and other stakeholders to address more broadly and comprehensively “all impacts, on all children, in all situations” of armed conflict (OSRSG‐CAAC & UNICEF, 2007, p. 1). It also identified emerging challenges and priorities and served as a platform for advocacy and appropriate action over the coming decade. This article summarizes the context, methodology, key themes, and recommendations of the 2007 Machel Ten‐Year Strategic Review