UN: Strengthen Action to End Use of Child Soldiers

Ex-Child Soldiers, Other Youth Appeal to Secretary-General on Treaty Anniversary. Former child soldiers and other youth representing a grassroots campaign from around the world will present thousands of symbolic "red hands" to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today to demand stronger action by international leaders to end the use of child soldiers.
A UN treaty prohibiting the forced recruitment or use of children under the age of 18 in armed conflict, the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict, has been ratified by 126 countries and entered into force on February 12, 2002, a date commemorated annually as "Red Hand Day." But child soldiers are still being used in 15 countries or territories, including some that have ratified the treaty. More...