Action Appeals

Ratify the Child Soldiers Treaty

Ten years ago, the United Nations adopted a treaty banning the use of children under age 18 in hostilities or their forced recruitment into armed forces or groups. Today, two-thirds of the world’s countries have ratified this treaty, known as the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict. However, 61 countries have not ratified the treaty and made clear their absolute commitment to ending the use of child soldiers.

Help us achieve universal ratification of the child soldiers treaty by writing to the ambassadors for key countries. Ask that their governments help end the use of child soldiers and act quickly to ratify the treaty.

To join this campaign go to the Human Rights Watch website.

Update from the US Campaign to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers

Dear members and friends of the US Campaign to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers:

New Child Soldiers Law

In October 2008, we saw a major victory when President Bush signed into law the Child Soldiers Accountability Act, which will allow the US to prosecute persons in the United States who have knowingly recruited or used children under age 15 as child soldiers, even if the children were recruited or served as soldiers outside the United States. It also allows the United States to deport or deny entry to individuals who have knowingly recruited children as soldiers.

This new law sends an important signal to commanders worldwide that they cannot recruit children into their forces, and then seek safe haven in the United States. Statements by Senator Durbin and other co-sponsors of the bill can be found here: http://durbin.senate.gov/showRelease.cfm?releaseId=304082

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