The International Campaign to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers

Lessons learned

Outline

• Presenting Terre des Hommes • Child soldiers • The Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers • aim of the Coalition • a measurable impact • the ingredients of success • A collaborative effort

Terre des Hommes • A network of ten member organisations • A same focus, children • A project oriented organisation • Campaigning for the rights of the child

Child Soldiers

• More than 300,000 children under 18 are fighting in armed conflicts in more than thirty countries world wide • Hundred of thousands more children have been recruited, both into governmental armed forces and armed opposition groups.

• While most child soldiers are aged between 15 and 18, many are recruited from the age of 10 and sometimes even younger.

• In many countries, both girls and boys are used as soldiers. Girls are at particular risk of rape and sexual abuse.

• While many children fight in the frontline, others are used as spies, messengers, sentries, porters, servants and sexual slaves. Children are often used to lay and clear landmines.

Child Soldiers

• The widespread availability of modern lightweight weapons enables children to become efficient killers in combat • While some children are recruited forcibly, others are driven into armed forces by poverty, alienation and discrimination • Both governments and armed groups use children because they are easier to condition into fearless killing and unthinking obedience • Children are often treated brutally and punishments for mistakes or desertion are severe • The longer conflicts continue, the more likely children will be exploited as soldiers. And when children are used as soldiers, all children in a conflict zone are often suspected and targeted by the warring parties.

The Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers • formed in May 1998 by six leading non-governmental organisations: Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, the International Save the Children Alliance, Jesuit Refugee Service, the Quaker United Nations Office and International Federation Terre des Hommes • Since its foundation, Defence for Children International and World Vision International have joined the Coalition’s steering committee • Currently, regional and national NGOs from Latin America, Africa, Asia and the Pacific and the Middle East also play an active role in the Coalition’s work.

Aim of the Coalition

working to prevent the recruitment and use of children as soldiers, to secure their demobilisation and to ensure their rehabilitation and reintegration into society

A measurable impact

• The Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child clearly prohibiting compulsory recruitment and participation of under 18 in armed conflict • Change in legislation for example in : Italy, UN Peace Keeping Missions • Commitments from armed forces • Effective demobilisation of children • Ethical standard • Increased awareness about the suffering of children affected by armed conflicts • Deeper knowledge about the issue

The ingredients of success

• A very spectacular issue • A simple and clear message : stop using child soldiers • An international event around which the campaign was built • High-quality research programme - first ever Global report on child soldiers • Synergy between the international and the national level • A collaborative effort between NGOs, UN agencies and governments

A collaborative effort

• A Steering Committee of involved international NGOs with different comparative assets • A world wide network of NGOs, expert agencies, academic institutions and national coalitions which are engaged in advocacy, campaigns and public education in nearly 40 countries • Active links with UNICEF, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNHCHR and the Special Representative of the Secretary General for Children and Armed Conflict • A group of link-minded states • A partner, the media