Security Council unanimously adopts resolution 2832 on digital harms to children in war; United States disassociates from expanded role for Special Representative's Office

The Security Council unanimously adopted resolution 2832 (2026), according to the UN Meetings Coverage and Press Releases service. The Council called for stronger measures to protect children affected by armed conflict from violations and abuses facilitated by digital technologies. It also promoted the safe use of those technologies for education and child protection. A Chinese-language UN News summary reports the vote as 15 in favour.

The Council condemned all violations of international law involving the recruitment and use of children by parties to armed conflict. It named re-recruitment, killing and maiming, rape and other sexual violence, abductions, and attacks against schools and hospitals. It called on Member States “to protect children in situations of armed conflict from violations and abuses committed, facilitated or amplified through digital technologies”.

UN News in Arabic reports that the text also asks parties that recruit children, including through social media, to stop at once. It asks the Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, resources permitting, to collect best practices. UN News in French reports that it invites states to strengthen child protection systems, including reporting channels open to minors, and encourages partnerships with technology companies. Platforms are urged to improve product safety, including age verification. According to UN News in French, the text sets no specific sanctions and no binding mechanism against them.

Greece wrote the draft. Its representative said the draft does not aim to regulate the technical side of digital content or limit freedom of expression. She said: “Recruitment through a smartphone is still recruitment”.

Several members voiced reservations after the vote. According to the UN Meetings Coverage service, the United States representative noted that his country had withdrawn support for the Office of the Special Representative over its perceived lack of results. He disassociated his delegation from references expanding the Office’s role. UN News in French adds that the United States voted for the text. It reports that he said expanding the Office’s role protects no child, and that the United States also contested some wording on recruitment and warned of censorship risks tied to references to disinformation. The Office is part of the UN, so the UN is itself the subject of that criticism. The sources do not give the full United States statement.

The Russian Federation’s representative said digital technologies have created no new categories of grave violations. He said the best-practices work should stay with the Special Representative, within the existing mandate and without outside actors. UN News in French adds that Russia regretted the removal of references to the military use of schools. China’s representative said that “the text still has room for improvement”. Somalia’s representative said implementation could overburden conflict-affected countries. He said: “The protection of children is primarily the responsibility of national Governments”.

Denmark’s representative supported the text but said her delegation wanted stronger language on several points, including gender-based violence and country task forces on monitoring and reporting. Latvia’s representative urged more research. Bahrain’s representative called for more international cooperation and capacity-building. Liberia’s representative said digital technologies “must never become another means through which conflict reaches children”.

UN News in French, citing the specialist site Security Council Report, says negotiations lasted several months. It says Russia and Somalia contested the last draft. The same report says the UN recorded 38 558 grave violations against children in armed conflict in 2025. It adds that child protection mechanisms already face budget restrictions. The sources do not say what resources the resolution provides.