Andorra's Xavier Espot Urges Global Action to Protect Children in Armed Conflicts

Andorra's head of government, Xavier Espot, addressed the Paix pour l’Enfance convention in Geneva on Friday, urging greater international cooperation to protect children impacted by armed conflicts.

During his speech at the event, which focused on safeguards for young victims in war zones, Espot argued that these children cannot remain a secondary priority. He called for reinforced global efforts, including policies, decisions, and dedicated resources to ensure both their protection and physical and mental rehabilitation.

Espot pointed to Andorra's participation in the UN's Prove It Matters campaign, led by the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict. The initiative seeks to place child protection in conflict areas at the forefront of the global agenda, with commitments needing translation into concrete steps.

The Andorran leader reaffirmed support for international humanitarian law and human rights, advocating multilateral agreements as key to progress. He closed by stating that it is possible to rebuild lives and turn suffering into hope.

His remarks aligned with contributions from UN officials, other nations' ambassadors, and Junior Nzita Nsuami, a former child soldier from the Democratic Republic of Congo who now heads an organization to prevent child recruitment. Espot recalled Nzita's earlier visit to Andorra, where he described being forcibly enlisted at age 12, forgoing school for combat.

Espot noted that millions of children currently face violence, displacement, or forced recruitment, with schools and hospitals under frequent attack and new technologies heightening risks to civilians. He pushed for preventive measures, support for survivors, attention to their voices, and accountability for perpetrators.

Andorra also contributes to UNICEF programs in the Central African Republic, offering education, psychological support, and vocational training to aid reintegration for affected children. No country can address this alone, Espot emphasized, committing Andorra to ongoing multilateral engagement.