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 Slide Shows |
| | In Depth |
The aformentioned statistics are constantly used and repeated in the international community, however they lack accuracy, reliability and most importantly verification. This lack of reliable information about specific violations has too often been an excuse for inaction.
Security Council calls for systematic monitoring and reporting.
In July 2005, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) recognized this deficit and established a comprehensive monitoring and reporting mechanism on children affected by conflict in Resolution 1612.
The monitoring and reporting mechanism is coordinated by UNICEF in cooperation with the Office of the Special Representative to the Secretary General for Children and Armed Conflict (OSRSG).
 Read more about Security Council Resolution 1612
Canada takes stock one year later
One year after the Security Council’s call for action, Canada’s Ambassador to the United Nations, John McNee, invited civil society and international partners to reflect on the first year of Resolution 1612 and discuss the way forward. The day-long event was held on July 21, 2006 in New York.
Speakers included Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict (SRSG), Radhika Coomaraswamy who outlined her plan for the year ahead, and French Ambassador De La Sablière who spoke as the Chair of the SC Working Group. The event took place just days before an open debate on Children and Armed Conflict in the Security Council.
Security Council Open Debate on Children and Armed Conflict
On Monday, July 24, 2006, the Security Council, under France’s Presidency, held an Open Debate on Children and Armed Conflict. The chair of the Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict presented a report on the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the Secretary-General's Special Representative and a representative from UNICEF briefed the Security Council on the issue of Children in Armed Conflict.
Statement by the President of the Security Council
Statement by the Special Representative of the Secretary General (PDF file)
Canada’s Statement to the Security Council Security Council Working Group Report on Children in Armed Conflict in the DRC UNICEF and Resolution 1612
Expanding the Dialogue: Winnipeg Workshop on Preventing the Use of Child Soldiers Minister MacKay addressed participants in Expanding the Dialogue, an innovative workshop on preventing the use of child soldiers held in Winnipeg, August 28-30, 2006. The three-day meeting was organized by Search for Common Ground, a Washington-based civil society organization, in cooperation with Senator Roméo Dallaire, USAID’s Displaced Children and Orphans Fund, the University of Winnipeg, and UNICEF Canada. The workshop brought together a wide range of actors - including policy-makers, civil society representatives, military leaders, youth leaders, child soldiers, multilateral organizations, and donors - to produce practical, collaborative new approaches to preventing the use of child soldiers and work towards producing real solutions on the ground. Expanding the Dialogue: Preventing the Use of Child Soldiers
Search for Common Ground Minister Peter MacKay - Address at Expanding the Dialogue
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| | Latest Developments | United Nations Security Council Resolution 1612
Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child
Letter from Ambassador Allan Rock to the Security Council President on Northern Uganda
|  Video Interviews |
 Resolution 1612 and the Security Council
Radhika Coomaraswamy discusses Resolution 1612, the need to prevent, monitor and punish, and the importance of international cooperation.
 NGOs and Resolution 1612
Kathy Vandergrift addresses the monitoring and reporting mechanism, Canada's leadership and the challenges facing the international community.
 Girls in Fighting Forces
Susan McKay, University of Wyoming, reveals why the issue of girl soldiers is important, discusses the prevention of abduction, examines the lack of data on child soldiers and reinforces the importance of community involvement in trauma support.
 Child Protection in Uganda
Geoffrey Oyat, Head of Child Protection with Save the Children Uganda examines the use of child soldiers and abductions in Uganda, discusses education as a form of child protection, and considers the measures that need to be taken in the future.
 An Unacceptable Practice
Jaap Doek, Chairperson of the United Nations Committee on Rights of the Child discusses the criminalization of child recruitment and involvement in armed conflict, and examines the role countries like Canada can play in helping victims of armed conflict.
| | Related links | Children and Armed Conflict - Foreign Affairs Canada Small Arms, Children and Armed Conflict- Foreign Affairs Canada
Women, Peace and Security- Foreign Affairs Canada
Protection of Civilians- Foreign Affairs Canada
Child Rights and Protection- Canadian International Development Agency
Children and Armed Conflict - United Nations
Profile of Children and Armed Conflict - Security Council Report |
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