NEWS RELEASES

January 25, 2000 (9:00 a.m. EST) No. 10

CANADA WELCOMES INTERNATIONAL CONSENSUS ON OPTIONAL PROTOCOL ON THE INVOLVEMENT OF CHILDREN IN

ARMED CONFLICT

Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy and National Defence Minister Art Eggleton today welcomed the consensus on the text of an Optional Protocol setting new standards governing the involvement of children in armed conflict. During negotiations from January 10 to 21, the international community agreed to a norm that requires states to take all feasible measures to ensure that members of their armed forces who are under the age of 18 do not take a direct part in hostilities.

The Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict also tackles the issues of voluntary recruitment, compliance, implementation, and international co-operation and assistance. Canada continued its international leadership on war-affected children by playing a key role in the drafting and negotiation of these elements. The Optional Protocol is expected to be formally adopted by the membership of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights during its 56th Session from March 20 to April 28. Canada looks forward to the adoption of the Optional Protocol by the United Nations (UN).

"We are very pleased with the broad scope of this Optional Protocol, which includes significant obligations with respect to non-state actors, compliance with the standards established and international assistance," said Mr. Axworthy. "With its concrete measures to protect war-affected children, it is also a significant milestone in advancing Canada's agenda at the Security Council concerning the protection of civilians in armed conflict."

"I am delighted that, with the Optional Protocol, states are accepting significant new obligations with respect to their armed forces," said Mr. Eggleton. "For our part, we can affirm that the practices of the Canadian Forces are in full compliance with the Optional Protocol. Furthermore, we will entrench our current policy into law."

Last September, the UN Secretary-General released Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict -- Towards a Climate of Compliance, a report requested by Canada. This report urges member states to accelerate the drafting of an Optional Protocol and recommends specific measures to assist in the plight of war-affected children. Canada will continue its work within the UN to implement the report's recommendations, including during its next Security Council Presidency in April.

Canada will also host two international conferences in the coming year. This spring, Canada and Ghana will co-host a West African conference on war-affected children where the problem is most acute. The conference will examine the protection of these children, the impact of small arms on children and their communities, and practical and sustainable commitments to rehabilitate and reintegrate children affected by conflict in the region.

The second, the International Conference on War-Affected Children, will be held in Canada this fall. It will formulate a plan of action to address the plight of and offer potential solutions for children affected by conflict. UN agencies, governments, non-governmental organizations, civil society and youth from all regions of the world will be invited to attend the conference.

These events will contribute to Canada's preparations for the 2001 UN General Assembly Special Session on Children, which will review the achievements of the goals of the 1990 World Summit for Children.

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For further information, media representatives may contact:

Debora Brown

Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs

(613) 995-1851

Media Relations Office

Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade

(613) 995-1874

Randy Mylyk

Office of the Minister of National Defence

(613) 996-3100

Media Liaison Office

Department of National Defence

(613) 996-2353

This document is also available on the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade's Internet site: http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca