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[ Global trends ]

Fewer conflicts involving child soldiers

From April 2004 to October 2007, children were used as combatants in 17 countries, according to the Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers. The coalition published its third Global Report in May.

The preceding issue was published in 2004. At the time, 27 countries were listed because regular forces, insurgents or other armed groups had recruited children. According to the most recent issue, nine governments sent children into combat. Four years earlier, the figure had been 10.

The network of several non-governmental organisations welcomes the trend, stressing, however, that it is mostly due to many violent conflicts having ended. In the mean time, this is also true of Nepal and Indonesia, two countries that still figure in the recent report. The authors emphasis that it is normal for children to be recruited as fighters or spies whenever wars break out or violent conflicts escalate. Efforts to demobilise children during conflict are said to have met “with only limited success”.

In the Coalition’s view, it is a good sign that the International Criminal Court has issued war-crime charges relating to the conscription, enlistment and active participation in hostilities of children under 15 years old in the Democratic Republik of Congo and Uganda. In this context, the Special Court for Sierra Leone is also mentioned favourably, and so are truth commissions in that country, Liberia and Timor Leste.

The Coalition appreciates that 120 states have now ratified the Optional Protocol to the Convention of the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflicts. In 2004, only 77 had done so. However, the Coalition emphasises the need for more public and diplomatic pressure to keep the issue on the international agenda. (dem)

D+C, 2008/06, Monitor, Page 226-22