NEWS RELEASES
CANADA SIGNS OPTIONAL PROTOCOL ON INVOLVEMENT OF CHILDREN IN ARMED CONFLICT
June 6, 2000 (2:50 p.m. EDT) No. 139
CANADA SIGNS OPTIONAL PROTOCOL ON INVOLVEMENT OF
CHILDREN IN ARMED CONFLICT
Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy today announced that Canada was the first
state to sign the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the
Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict when it was opened for signature at the
United Nations headquarters in New York. Canada's Ambassador and Permanent
Representative, Robert Fowler, signed the Convention on behalf of the Government of
Canada.
"The adoption of this Protocol is a major step forward in tackling the increasingly
prevalent use of children in war," said Mr. Axworthy. "Canada will continue its leadership
role in this field by hosting the International Conference on War-Affected Children in
Winnipeg, in September. Our efforts to protect war-affected children are an important
element in Canada's human security agenda and its emphasis in the Security Council
on improving the protection of civilians in armed conflict."
The Optional Protocol, which will come into force three months after the deposit of the
10th instrument of ratification or accession, addresses the issues of deployment into
hostilities, voluntary recruitment, compliance, implementation, and international co-operation and assistance. Canada played a central role in the drafting and negotiation
of the Protocol.
In late April, Canada co-hosted the West African Conference on War-Affected Children
in Accra, Ghana, to build support for concrete protection in a region acutely affected by
armed conflict and violence. The conference examined ways to enhance protection and
set out a series of practical, concrete actions that West African countries, with the
support of others, can undertake to deal with the impact of war on children, to help
reintegrate war-affected youth into society -- especially through education -- and to
prevent the involvement of children in conflict in the future.
The issue of war-affected children is a priority at the Organization of American States
(OAS) General Assembly taking place in Windsor. Through the OAS participants,
Canada has circulated for future discussion an 11-point draft Framework for the
International Conference on War-Affected Children. It is hoped that it will be the basis
for decision making at the Winnipeg conference.
The Winnipeg International Conference on War-Affected Children will formulate an
international plan of action to address the growing problem of children affected by
armed conflict. UN agencies, governments, non-governmental organizations, civil
society and youth from all regions of the world will be invited to attend. The conference
will also provide a valuable focus for preparations for the 2001 UN General Assembly
Special Session on Children, which will review the achievements of the goals of the
1990 Word 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
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