First Lady Melania Trump promoted peace for children of the world while presiding over the United Nations Security Council meeting Monday – a statement that arrives after Iran reported more than 100 children were killed during U.S. and Israel strikes.
The first lady opened her remarks at the meeting on children, technology and education in conflict with condolences to those who have lost loved ones and a smooth recovery to those injured in this “challenging time.”
“The U.S. stands with all of the children throughout the world. I hope soon peace will be yours,” Melania Trump added.
While the first lady did not specifically mention the “challenging time” she was speaking of, her comment appeared timely after Iran reported that more than 100 schoolchildren died in an airstrike that hit a girls’ elementary school in Minab.
It’s unclear which country’s strike may have hit the school. The U.S. Central Command said it was aware of the reports and was “looking into them.”
The first lady, who has become the first spouse of a world leader to take the president’s seat at the meeting, focused the rest of her speech on advocating for the advancement of technology access worldwide to children – which was the topic of the March meeting.
Monday’s meeting on children, technology and education in conflict was scheduled to take place before President Donald Trump ordered the U.S. military to begin attacks on Iran.
While most members chose not to specifically speak on the death of Iranian children, U.N. Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo for political and peacebuilding affairs mentioned it during her opening remarks.
"When conflicts erupt, children are among those most severely affected,” DiCarlo began. “We have been reminded of this truth over the last two days. Schools in Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman have closed and moved to remote learning owing to the ongoing military operations in the region.”
DiCarlo added: “We are aware of the reports from Iran about the death of possibly dozens of children, allegedly as the result of a strike that hit an elementary school in the town of Minab. United States authorities have announced they are looking into these reports."
The U.N. Security Council, comprised of 15 members, rotates the presidency each month, allowing different world leaders to set the agenda at that month’s meeting. For March, U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Mike Waltz passed the gavel to the first lady.
Advocating for children has been part of Melania Trump’s initiatives as first lady since returning to the White House last year.
In September, Melania Trump launched a global coalition, Fostering the Future Together, to help children embrace and adopt innovations in technology such as artificial intelligence, blockchain and robotics.
In July, she penned a handwritten letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin, urging him to have compassion for children impacted by the war. Roughly three months later, eight children displaced as a result of the Russia-Ukraine war were reunited with their families.
From a domestic standpoint, Melania Trump has advocated for the education of artificial intelligence in schools to help children embrace the developing technology and use it for innovation.
The first lady asked U.N. Security Council members to pledge to make technology more accessible to children worldwide in order to promote peace.
“Conflict arises from ignorance. But knowledge creates understanding. Replacing fear with peace and unity. Security council members, I encourage you to pledge to safeguard learning in our communities and promote access to heightened education for all,” Melania Trump said.
Other representatives for members of the U.N. Security Council advocated for technological safeguards to protect children from online dangers, promoting empathy through education and ensuring children who are impacted by armed conflict are able to access remote learning.
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