January22, 2009? In response to the new United Nations report "Children inArmed Conflict", Plan Canada urges the Security Council to domore than simply debate the issue when it meets in New York in aspecial session on February 12. Urgent action is needed to defuse aticking time bomb of traumatized and alienated child soldiers, oftenkidnapped by armed groups and brainwashed to become brutal killers.
The SecretaryGeneral's report (published January 30) highlights conflicts incountries such as Uganda, Sudan, Colombia, Sri Lanka and Sierra Leoneand others ? all countries where Plan works. Findingsinclude:
child victimsof conflict ? both girls and boys - endure unimaginableexperiences that leave them traumatized and vulnerable to furtherabuse;
children inrefuge camps are at particular risk of abduction, as well as rapeand other forms of physical and mental abuse;
not enough isbeing done to give former child soldiers real hope for the future;
the systematicand deliberate attacks on schoolchildren, teachers and schoolbuildings have escalated in certain countries.
Plan Canada calls onthe international community to provide additional funding forprojects to help former child soldiers reintegrate into society. Moremust also be done to protect children from abduction by armed groups.Solutions require real actions. Plan has now moved into threeprovinces in Northern Uganda to rebuild communities destroyed after20 years of vicious civil war. In addition to rebuilding basicinfrastructure, Plan's work also focuses on conflict resolution andthe reintegration of child soldiers and abducted girls back intosociety.
"Even a simplething like training a young person to drive a truck gives them hopethat they can once again become a valuable part of their community, "said McCarney.
Rosemary McCarneyhas traveled to Northern Uganda and to Sudan, including Darfur, andcan provide valuable insight into the plight of child soldiers andtheir communities.
PlanCanada is an international child-centered development agency thatoperates in 66 countries across the world, with no political orreligious affiliations.Please visit the website at
