Joint Statement by Libyan Non-Governmental Organizations On the International Day Against the Use of Child Soldiers

Ref: PRS 2026/02/1008

February 12, 2026

Joint Statement by Libyan Non-Governmental Organizations On the International Day Against the Use of Child Soldiers

The undersigned Libyan organizations commemorate the International Day Against the Use of Child Soldiers at a time when children and minors in Libya remain vulnerable to multiple forms of violence and exploitation, both within and outside the context of armed conflict.

Although the public recruitment of children by armed groups has declined compared to the years following 2011, largely due to the reduction in active hostilities since 2020, serious risks persist. These include the presence of minors inside security and military facilities or affiliated rest houses, their use in non-combat roles, and their exposure to grave violations, including sexual exploitation, coercion, and extortion.

In recent years, Libya has witnessed local initiatives aimed at reducing the recruitment of children, supported by UNICEF and its partners. UNICEF has launched awareness campaigns and psychosocial support programs for conflict-affected children, and supported municipal pledges to prevent the involvement of minors in military activities. In 2016, the Municipality of Zintan announced a ban on the participation of children under 18 in military activities, followed in 2017 by the release of dozens of conflict-associated minors with support from UNICEF reintegration programs.

These local efforts coincide with deeply troubling global trends. The Report[1] of the Special Representative of the Secretary‑General for Children and Armed Conflict to the Human Rights Council’s 61st Regular Session (23 February – 2 April 2026) shows that grave violations against children reached unprecedented levels in 2024, with a 25% increase compared to 2023. The United Nations verified 41,370 grave violations against 22,495 children, including:

• 7,402 cases of recruitment and use,
• 4,676 killed and 7,291 maimed,
• 4,573 abductions,
• a 35% rise in sexual violence,
• and 2,374 attacks on schools and hospitals (a 44% increase).

The report also highlights a rise in the detention of children for alleged association with armed groups, reaching 3,018 children in 2024. This global pattern reinforces concerns about the presence of minors inside security facilities in Libya, whether as victims of exploitation or as individuals held outside legal frameworks.

The report underscores the importance of implementing the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict (OPAC), aligning national legislation with international standards, strengthening accountability, adopting handover protocols for children associated with armed forces and groups, and ensuring long-term reintegration programs that are gender- and age-sensitive, in line with Security Council Resolution 2427 (2018) and the Paris Principles.

Reports and testimonies indicating the continued presence of minors inside security facilities in Libya raise serious concern and highlight the need for stronger measures to protect children and prevent their exploitation. Such practices violate Libyan law and the country’s international obligations.

Accordingly, the undersigned organizations call for:

1. A complete ban on the presence of children/minors inside all security and military facilities, including affiliated rest houses and annexes.
2. Independent and regular monitoring mechanisms to ensure these facilities are free of minors.
3. Urgent and transparent investigations into all cases of exploitation and violations involving children, and accountability for those responsible.
4. Immediate referral of any child/minor found in such facilities to child protection and social welfare authorities, in accordance with internationally recognized handover protocols.
5. Support for protection and reintegration programs for children who have survived violations, in line with UNSC Resolution 2427 and the Paris Principles.
6. Alignment of national laws and policies with OPAC and full implementation of its obligations.
7. Addressing the root causes of recruitment and exploitation by strengthening education, providing economic alternatives, and supporting affected families and communities.

Protecting children is not a political or security choice; it is a legal and moral obligation of the State and all its institutions. No lawful security institution can be built while children are present in its facilities or exploited in any form. Children are not tools of war, nor instruments of pressure or coercion. Their protection is essential for the rule of law and the stability of Libya.

The undersigned organizations:

1. Al‑Naseer Organization for Human Rights – Tripoli.
2. Al-Bariq Organization for Child Rights, Tripoli.
3. Belady Human Rights Watch – Misrata.
4. The Benghazi Center for Migration and Asylum Studies, Benghazi.
5. Human Rights Solidarity Organisation – Tripoli.
6. Ihqaq for Sustainable Development of Women and Children – Tripoli.
7. Tabayano Human Rights Association – Nalut.

Tripoli, Libya

12 February 2026

[1] Human Rights Council’s 61st Regular Session (23 February – 2 April 2026): “Report of the Special Representative of the Secretary General for Children and Armed Conflict”.