On the occasion of the anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Egmont Education & Training team co-organized an Exchange of Expertise on Children and Armed Conflict, in close collaboration with the Federal Public Service (FPS) Foreign Affairs, the Representation of Belgium to the European Union, the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, and the European External Action Service (EEAS)’s PCM.1 Integrated Approach for Peace and Security of the Peace, Partnerships and Crisis Management Directorate, as well as the Civilian Planning and Conduct Capability (CPCC).
The exchange with several Belgian civilian experts deployed in CSDP missions reminded the experts about the international legal and policy framework on children and armed conflict. It also informed them about updated EU tools and guidelines related to the protection of children affected by armed conflicts. It provided a useful opportunity to exchange experiences among experts and between deployed experts and Brussels.