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Press Release

United Nations Leaders Welcome Vital Ratification of Optional Protocol On Child Soldiers

NEW YORK, 14 November 2001 - UNICEF Executive Director Carol Bellamy and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, Olara Otunnu today hailed the tenth ratification of a protocol to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) which should help to protect children from being recruited and used as soldiers in armed conflicts. Governments that have ratified the protocol include Andorra, Bangladesh, Canada, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Holy See, Iceland, New Zealand, Panama, Romania and Sri Lanka.

"This represents a crucial step in the campaign to end the recruitment of children for armed combat and their use as soldiers. It is a milestone in the protection of children," Bellamy said. The protocol outlaws the involvement of children under age 18 in any hostilities and sets strict standards for the recruitment of those under 18.

The number of children under the age of 18 who are serving as soldiers is approximately 300,000 - and nearly half are believed to be in militaries or with armed opposition groups in Africa.

Recent press releases and statements on child soldiers

"Forcing children to fight adult wars is an act of cruelty that should be regarded as unacceptable to all civilized societies," Otunnu said. "The conditions which make children prey to such cruel exploitation - abject poverty and hopelessness, for instance - should also be regarded as unacceptable by the international community."

Bellamy and Otunnu emphasized that the ratification of the Optional Protocol is but one of several crucial steps in a longer campaign to end the use of children under age 18 as soldiers. The 1990 Convention on the Rights of the Child set the minimum age for recruitment at 15. This protocol raises the bar.

Ms. Bellamy and Mr. Otunnu strongly urged the 78 governments that have already signed the Optional Protocol to move as swiftly as possible to ratify it. They also called on all other States to sign and ratify the protocol.

"The universal ratification and implementation of the Optional Protocol must remain a pressing priority on the international agenda," Bellamy and Otunnu said. "Every day that we delay, the toll on children increases - and that is intolerable. Our aim is to achieve 100 ratifications by the time of the Special Session on Children in the spring of 2002."

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For further information, please contact:

Jehane Sedky-Lavandero, UNICEF Media Section, New York, (212) 326-7269,
jsedky@unicef.org

Mary Ellen Glynn, Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, (212) 963-9648

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UNICEF hails new treaty banning child soldiers Tues. 12 Feb. 2002

2001

Ex-child soldier addresses Security Council Tues., 20 Nov
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Five months later, child soldiers go home to Sudan, Wed., 29 August
Ex-child soldiers begin new lives in Rwanda Mon, 20 August
Sri Lankan children still recruited for wars Friday, 20 July
Sierra Leone releases 150 more child soldiers Monday, 4 June
Côte d'Ivoire intercepts child soldiers from Burkina Faso June
In Angola children released, but worry persists Sat, 26 May
Hundreds of child soldiers freed in Sierra Leone Friday, 25 May 20
In Angola, a call for release of 60 abducted children Tues., 8 May
UNICEF renews aid for children in Sierra Leone Thurs , 19 April
Carol Bellamy on the airlift of child soldiers in Sudan Tues, 27 Feb
2,500 demobilized child soldiers out of Sudan Tuesday, 27 Feb
UNICEF finds 163 Congolese child soldiers in Uganda Tuesday, 20 Feb
UNICEF assesses Congolese child soldiers in Uganda Wed, 14 Feb
UNICEF applauds agreement with Uganda on child soldiers Fri, 9 Feb
Children in armed conflict to the Panel on Optional Protocol Wed., 31 Jan
Security council debates issue of children in war Wed, 26 July
Angola: Call for immediate release of 21 abducted children Fri, 14 July

2000

Sudan rebels give UNICEF a guarantee on child soldiers, Oct 24
Bellamy in Winnipeg on war-effected children Wed, 13 Sept
Graça Michel calls for an end to impunity against war crimes Wed., 13 Sept
UNICEF hails new Security Council decision on children and war Fri, 11 Aug
Bellamy to Security Council on protection of children in conflict Wed, 26 July
Hague Appeal for Peace: Children as catalysts for peace Wed., 12 May

1999

To the Humanitarian Issues Working Group: the catastrophe in Kosovo Tues. 6 Apr
To the Security Council: A peace and security agenda for children Fri., 12 Feb