Excellencies,
Distinguished Representatives of OHCHR, UNICEF, and the Council of Europe,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is a privilege to welcome you here today.
We are gathered at the very heart of the global human rights architecture. This Council serves as the moral compass of our international community, constantly reminding us that our words must carry the weight of action. And nowhere is this action more urgent than in the protection of our children.
Today, we meet to emphasise that our National Strategies are not merely bureaucratic documents but a living shield against violence—offering justice that heals, protects, and restores the dignity and future of every single child. This commitment is the natural evolution of the principles we have championed in this very Hall.
For decades, this Council has been the architect of a global consensus. Through its resolutions and mechanisms, the HRC has established a fundamental truth: Children are not objects of charity. They are subjects of rights. Greece has been a consistent and passionate supporter of this work. We have co-sponsored resolutions, engaged with the Committee on the Rights of the Child, and championed the rights of the most vulnerable.
But today, we must look beyond the texts that we adopt. We must look at the world as it is, not as we wish it were.
We live in an era of multiple crises. As Greece assumes its seat as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, it is clear that whenever peace is shattered, children are the first to bleed. From the rubble of Gaza to the basements of Ukraine, and from the displacement camps of Sudan to the conflict zones of the Sahel, children are paying the price for wars they did not start.
Let me be clear: For Greece, the "Children in Armed Conflict" agenda is a cornerstone of our tenure on the Security Council. We are committed to being their voice. We demand accountability. We demand that International Humanitarian Law, International Law and Human Rights Law be respected—not as a suggestion but as an absolute red line.
However, violence is not limited to the battlefield. The Human Rights Council has rightly identified violence against children as a systemic threat in times of peace as well. It occurs in our homes, in our schools, and increasingly in the digital sphere.
The Council has given us the roadmap. It has told us that prevention is better than cure. It has told us that justice for a child must look different from justice for an adult. But a roadmap is useless if we do not walk the path.
The challenge we face today is the Implementation Gap. How do we turn the noble words of the Convention on the Rights of the Child—signed here in Geneva—into reality in a neighbourhood in Athens, in a village in Africa, or in a school in Asia?
The answer lies in National Action. International obligations must be translated into bold, coherent, and well-funded National Policies.
This is the path Greece has chosen. I am proud to share that we have launched a comprehensive National Strategy for the Prevention of Violence against Children and the Child-Friendly Justice (2025–2030).
I will not burden you with technical details. Instead, I want to share with you the philosophy—the vision—that underpins this Strategy.
First, we are changing how we view justice. Putting a child behind bars is often an admission of society’s failure. Our Strategy aligns with European and international standards to promote Restorative Justice. We are shifting from a system that purely punishes to one that heals. We are moving towards institutional safeguards against unnecessary deprivation of liberty and strengthening post-detention reintegration. We want to reintegrate these children, not criminalise their future.
Second, we are looking forward. The violence of the 21st century is hybrid. It is physical, but it is also digital. Our children inhabit a digital universe that offers immense knowledge but also hides dark corners—cyberviolence, exploitation, and abuse. Greece’s Strategy treats the digital environment as a public space that must be safe. We are implementing strict digital responsibility frameworks and age verification mechanisms. We are building digital resilience, teaching our children not just how to use technology, but how to protect themselves from it.
Third, and most importantly: Prevention. We cannot wait for the bruise to appear or the crime to be committed. We are investing in early intervention. We are breaking the silence. We are strengthening the "Child Houses" to prevent secondary victimisation.
Excellencies, dear friends,
This side event is not just about exchanging technical expertise. It is about renewing a vow.
The Human Rights Council has done its job by setting the standards. The Security Council must do its job by enforcing peace. And we, as national governments, must do our job by implementing policies that touch the lives of real children.
Protecting a child is not just a legal obligation under the UN Charter or the European Convention. It is the ultimate investment in our collective future. A child who grows up free from violence is a citizen who will build a world of peace.
Greece is ready to lead by example. We are ready to listen, to learn, and to work with all of you— the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, UNICEF, the Council of Europe, and every Member State - to make this vision a reality.
Let us give our children the justice—and the future—they deserve.
Thank you.
February 24, 2026