NEWS RELEASES
CANADA WELCOMES ENTRY INTO FORCE OF OPTIONAL PROTOCOL ON CHILDREN IN ARMED CONFLICT
February 12, 2002 (10:30 a.m. EST) No. 11
CANADA WELCOMES ENTRY INTO FORCE OF OPTIONAL PROTOCOL ON CHILDREN
IN ARMED CONFLICT
Foreign Affairs Minister Bill Graham today welcomed the entry into force of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on
the Rights of the Child on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict. Canada played a leadership role in the
negotiation of the Optional Protocol and in July 2000 was the first country to sign and ratify the document.
"This landmark achievement is an important step toward the protection of war-affected children," said Minister Graham.
"Canada is committed to a global ban on child soldiers. We will continue to work with our partners toward universal
ratification and full implementation of the Optional Protocol."
The entry into force of the Optional Protocol strengthens international standards to protect war-affected children by raising
the minimum age for participation in armed conflict from 15 to 18 years, and by establishing a ban on compulsory
recruitment below 18 years. It also addresses issues of compliance, implementation and international cooperation and
assistance. In order to ratify the Optional Protocol, Canada amended the National Defence Act in June 2000, to put into law
Canada's long-standing practice of not deploying persons under 18 to areas of active hostilities. To date, 96 countries have
signed the Optional Protocol, and 14 of these have also ratified it.
Canada has long been an international advocate for the rights of war-affected children. An early supporter of the United
Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, Canada was also the first
country to support the Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers. In September 2000, Canada hosted the International
Conference on War-Affected Children, held in Winnipeg, where 132 states agreed to the Agenda for War-Affected
Children.
"Today, over 300,000 children are involved in armed conflicts around the world. Our goal is to bring this number down to
zero," said Minister Graham. "Canada strongly encourages all states to ratify or accede to the Optional Protocol before the
UN Special Session on Children in May."
Currently, Canada is working to ensure that a strong commitment to all war-affected children is part of the forthcoming
United Nations Special Session on Children, to take place in New York, from May 8 to10, 2002.
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For further information, media representatives may contact:
Media Relations Office
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
(613) 995-1874
http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca
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