The UK government must put in place measures to protect civilians within its military partnerships, or risk being implicated in rights abuses across the world and undercut its own ambition to be a “force for good” in the world, warns children’s charity War Child UK in their newly published report today.
The report found that in 2019, the UK had military partnerships with at least eight countries armed forces which consistently committed grave rights violations against children - including Afghanistan, Iraq, Nigeria, Somalia, Syria and Yemen. The UK provided training, assistance and advice, or air support to these militaries. Cumulatively in 2019, these eight countries were responsible for a reported 3,258 grave violations, though the true figures are widely acknowledged to be significantly more.
In 2020 alone, the United Nations recorded over 26,000 “grave rights violations” against children in armed conflicts around the world - from killing, maiming, abduction to sexual violence, recruitment into armed groups and military strikes on schools and hospitals. This figure, the charity states, is more than two-and-a-half times higher than the number of violations recorded in 2010, and among the armed forces that the UK assists, are some of those responsible for these shocking figures
The report comes in the wake of the UK’s statement that strong alliances and partnerships globally are ‘more important than ever’ and for reasons such as national security, it is necessary for the UK government to work with its allies. According to this year’s Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy, British Armed Forces will be deployed overseas ‘more often and for longer periods of time, to train, exercise and operate alongside allies and partners across all our priority regions’, acknowledging that the UK will indeed ‘work with a variety of partners who do not necessarily share the same values’ – a statement which War Child says carries monumental risk.
Though the charity merits the UK for having played a very active role in protecting human rights around the world - from beginning the Preventing Sexual Violence initiative, to appealing to states that are abusing human rights at the United Nations - it urges that much more could be done to hold our military partners to account - actors we know are guilty of grave violations.
In this new report, War Child argues that building the capacity of partner military forces, without appropriate efforts to ensure that the capacity is used in accordance with international law and best practice, places more children at risk. Yet new capabilities are now being created to deliver on these Integrated Review plans, including a 1,000-strong ‘Ranger Regiment’ which will be involved in “collective deterrence such as training, advising, enabling and accompanying partner forces” in places like Somalia - a country in which nearly 20% of all UN-verified grave violations against children in situations of armed conflict in 2020 took place.
One of the country case studies featured in the report is Iraq where an estimated 9,000-12,000 civilians were killed during the 2016-17 campaign to drive ISIS from Mosul. At third of deaths have been attributed to Coalition and Iraqi forces yet despite evidence to the contrary, the UK Government’s insists there was only one civilian casualty across all of its operations in Iraq and Syria from 2014 to 2018.
Based on insights from over 50 experts consulted by War Child UK, the report sets out a list of recommendations that if implemented, could change the trends in violations we are seeing today. These include strengthening political will, building knowledge and understanding of child protection concerns, ensuring accountability and oversight and promoting best practice. Moreover, they include embedding child protection at the heart of all UK military support relationships and integrating detailed, practical training on child protection standards into all UK and overseas military training. The UK must also make all forms of military support contingent on partner forces’ commitment and performance on child protection and respect for international law, withholding assistance where credible allegations of violations against civilians has taken place.
The risks of not doing so, the charity outlines, are multi-layered, but in summary pose immediate danger to children’s lives, place legal liabilities at the UK’s doorstep, risk prolonging armed conflicts, threaten reputational damage and ultimately undermine the UK’s strategic interests. If, however approached thoughtfully, military relationships, War Child argues, can also offer a great opportunity for the UK to influence and assist partner armed forces to better address - and where possible prevent - rights violations.
Rob Williams, CEO of War Child UK said: "There is a big opportunity here for the UK whose forces are present in eight of the 19 countries where children are worst affected by conflict. When a fundamental part of the mission is the protection of civilians, we need to train the skills that are required for this role. UK soldiers should know what to do when they meet a child who is being sexually abused, or witness their military partners putting children’s lives at risk. At the moment our forces have very little knowledge of child protection issues or the international laws designed to secure their separation from armed conflict. If we empower our forces with the right training, children will be more secure and our military support will be more highly valued. If we develop clarity of purpose on this issue, the UK can stand out as an actor that successfully protects civilians and creates security for children in conflict areas."
Contact our media team
Notes to the Editor:
About War Child UK
War Child UK is the only specialist charity for children affected by conflict. For more than two decades we’ve been driven by a single goal – for no child’s life to be torn apart by war. We aim to reach children as early as possible when conflict breaks out and stay to support them through their recovery – keeping them safe, helping them learn and cope with their experiences, and equipping them with skills for the future.
We understand children’s needs, respect their rights, and put them at the centre of the solution and campaign for changes to policies and practices to support children in conflict, working with children and young people themselves to demand their rights.
Together with our partners we deliver our vital, life-saving work in 15 countries across Africa, Asia and the Middle East, and Latin America. In 2019 alone, we reached over 100,000 children.
Web: https://www.warchild.org.uk/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/warchilduk/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/WarChildUK
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/warchilduk/
Charity number: 1071659
