US Fails to End Child Soldier Use

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2011-04-13 16:07:52

Human rights organizations have urged the Obama administration to follow the Children Soldiers Prevention Act of 2008.

Four leading human rights and humanitarian organizations wrote to the president after failing to secure concrete progress by the governments of Chad, the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan and Yemen.

The letter from Amnesty International USA, Human Rights Watch, the Open Society Foundations and World Vision US was released yesterday. Despite the White House stating that it was committed to working with these countries to reduce recruitment or use of child soldiers, the human rights organizations have still not seen any progress. They claim: “We have been deeply disappointed to see no discernable progress by any of the four governments concerned as a result of US action.”

Barrack Obama granted waivers to the four countries in October 2010, allowing them to continue to receive US military assistance, despite their use of child soldiers in violation of the prevention act.

Jo Becker, children rights advocate at Human Rights Watch, makes some suggestions on how to improve the situation. She claims: “Well-placed US pressure on countries using child soldiers could make a world of difference. The Obama administration should make clear that without concrete progress in ending their use of child soldiers, Chad, South Sudan, Yemen and DRC will not be receiving US military assistance next year.”

World Vision UK believe that no child below the age of 18 years should be recruited into the armed forces nor should they take any direct or indirect part in hostilities. World Vision UK’s Child Rights Manger, Philippa Lei, told The Fresh Outlook that it might not be easy stopping the use of child soldiers: “The reality is that there are few mechanisms to protect vulnerable children from being forced into or conscripted as child soldiers in conflict situations.”

Ms Lei also claims: “The International Criminal Court and the UN Security Council must use all avenues open to them to prevent the use of child soldiers and prosecute perpetrators. And the UK government can play a key role in this through its position on the UN Security council Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict.”

Jesse Eaves, World Vision’s Child Protection Advisor in the US, also spoke to The Fresh Outlook and explains why they participated in the letter:

“The US Congress sent a clear message in 2008 that no US taxpayer money should go towards the training of armies that use children. At a time when every dollar counts, the Administration must take a stand and say the US will not send valuable foreign aid dollars to militaries that use child soldiers unless that money will go towards assisting the process of demobilising the children and returning them home.”

By Holly North

[Image courtesy of hdptcar]