Human development and human security are the central global concerns of this new century. These basic human needs start with the promotion of children's needs. Nowhere is their safety and well-being more at risk than in conflict situations.

This concern inspired our meeting here in Accra -- a demonstration of Ghanian leadership in this area. It was just over a year ago, during my discussions with President Rawlings and Foreign Minister Ghebo, that we agreed a regional conference might make a difference in the lives of children victimized by armed conflict in West Africa.

This conference is about changing the fate of war-affected children and preventing future atrocities committed against children in situations of armed conflict.

Four years ago, Graca Machel presented the UN General Assembly with her landmark study on the Impact of Armed Conflict on Children.

Her report graphically conveyed the fate of millions upon millions of war-affected children. She also gave us a substantive set of recommendations -- a road map of how to protect our children from this suffering.

Her message is now our motto: children have no part in war. It is the reason we are here in Ghana.

The protection of children affected by war and the promotion of their well-being is a moral, political, social and economic imperative.

Moral, because children are our creation and in their early years depend on adult members of society for their survival and development.

Political, because children who have been abused develop into adults who may be willing to turn their resentment into political violence, while their families may act out their own outrage in a destructive manner.

Social, because the anger and psychological scars of these abused children and their families threaten social cohesion and place a heavy burden on social services.

And economic, because all these problems have economic costs, whether it be the need for medical and social support or the loss of productive citizens.

Abuse of children, therefore, has both immediate costs and can lead to future divisiveness and deterioration of their communities.

For these reasons, children are at the heart of human security, as they are all too often among the most deeply affected by an increase in insecurity.

The African Charter on the Rights of the Child has set out a comprehensive agenda for action: on armed conflicts, on refugee children, on orphaned and separated children, and on various aspects of protection. This has provided leadership for the international community.

Last January in Geneva, the international community agreed to an Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child relating to the involvement of children in armed conflict -- in particular the recruitment and deployment of children as soldiers. The Protocol will be open for signature this September.

It is time to move from standard-setting to implementation, compliance and concrete action.

That is the goal of this conference.

Its focus is on the needs of individual children, their families and communities, and ensuring that West African governments and regional organizations like ECOWAS [Economic Community of West African States] have the capacity to support new initiatives.

Its themes address a variety of the root causes and symptoms which lead to the involvement of children in war: poverty, lack of alternatives, access to small arms, impunity, conflict prevention, the role of non-state actors and the special gender dimensions of conflict.

Its participation includes youth themselves who have met over the past few days to set their own agenda based on their own needs, rights and goals. They are, after all, the ones most directly involved. Their views are essential. Their voices need to be heard. That is why war-affected youth have been invited and why we need to listen to their concerns.

Civil society is also represented. As with the campaign to ban landmines and the creation of the International Criminal Court, they are leading international efforts to address the needs of war-affected children. Their presence allows us to continue to forge strong partnerships in dealing with human security challenges. They also have recommendations for action. I look forward to hearing them.

The results of this conference -- hopefully -- will catalyze practical, sustainable action to address the enormous impact that war has had on the children of West Africa and serve as a model for future conferences in other regions.

There are many challenges. One of them is the pre-meditated abduction of children from their families, homes and communities. I hope that one of the specific actions to come out of this conference is a release program for children. To those armies or rebel groups responsible, the message should be clear: if you have taken children -- let them go; if you have children in your ranks -- set them free.

It is now up to governments gathered here to decide what they are ready to do and what they are ready to commit.

For our part, Canada has already been active in promoting human security in the region. We have devoted over $10 million to peace and humanitarian efforts in Sierra Leone -- much of it aimed at helping war-affected children lead normal, secure lives.

Working with Sweden, we have supported efforts to include child rights and protection issues in training curriculums for military staff of West African armed forces. Similarly, we have assisted the UN Centre for Crime Prevention in its efforts to curb trafficking of women and children in the region. And our Peacebuilding and Human Security Program provided financial support for the journalists and youth workshops associated with this conference.

We are prepared to do more -- in the region and in the world. That is why Canada is pleased to co-sponsor this conference with our Ghanian hosts and why we will build on the experience here to prepare for the global conference on war-affected children, which will take place this September in the city of Winnipeg in Canada. It will bring together like-minded governments, international institutions, NGOs and youth to develop an international plan of action.

Canada also continues to be a strong supporter of the work of Olara Otunnu, the UN Secretary-General's Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict. We have made a substantial financial contribution to his office, and will collaborate with him to assist in fulfilling his mandate. He has done much to raise the profile of this subject around the world and we welcome his presence here in Accra.

Recognizing the important work of civil society, Canada has over the past two years provided financial support for the Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers, an international organization that played a key role in the successful negotiation of the Optional Protocol on Children in Armed Conflict.

As with efforts to deal with the abuse of small arms and to ban landmines, Africans are leading the world in developing practical means and action to advance the protection of civilians in war and to promote human security. To that end, this conference will be an important contribution to global action in dealing with war-affected children. I will ensure that decisions made here will be fully integrated into efforts in Winnipeg.

One of the most basic human instincts is to protect one's child from harm and suffering. Children represent our global future and the desire to guard them from the many forces that can destroy their hope and innocence is universal.

Doing so is an essential part of our broader aspiration to promote human security and to create stable, peaceful societies.

In considering our responsibilities to our children, I am often reminded of a saying by the Opaskwayak Elders of the Cree Nation in Canada to the effect that "a child is a gift or loan from the Great Spirit; and one is given the responsibility to raise and care for that child. Since a child is a gift from the Great Spirit, the child is sacred and must be treated with respect and dignity."

This is truly a sentiment with universal meaning. Here in Ghana this week, I look forward to working with you in living up to that sacred trust, in seeking ways to make a real difference in helping war-affected children in West Africa.

Thank you.

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Last Updated: 2006-10-30	Top of Page	Important Notices