Washington, 17 September 2008- The U.S is to be commended for its legislative efforts to combat child soldiering said Ms. Radhika Coomaraswamy, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict. “The Child Soldiers Prevention and Accountability Acts send a clear message that recruitment and use of child soldiers is unlawful. Perpetrators of such crimes could also become accountable under U.S. domestic legislation”, she added.

The Child Soldiers Accountability Act that has just passed the Senate and the House of Representatives criminalizes the recruitment and use of child soldiers. It gives the United States the authority to deny admission or to deport individuals for such activities.

The Child Soldiers Prevention Act, still to be passed, would impose significant restrictions on the transfer of military technology and provision of U.S. military assistance to governments or paramilitaries using child soldiers in violation of international law. The approval of arms export licenses would also be prohibited.

Ms. Coomaraswamy said that both acts found bipartisan support in both chambers of the Congress, and that together they have the potential to make a real difference in the lives of thousands of child soldiers around the world.

The UN Representative underlined the momentum in the fight against impunity for the recruitment and use of child soldiers. “The unique engagement of the Security Council through resolution 1612 played a crucial role in awakening the conscience of the international community and has started to bring results at global level”, she explained.

 

It is also important for Member States to develop domestic legislation to reinforce the process. “U.S. engagement will add impetus in bringing tangible changes to the child soldiers issue around the globe, and may prompt other governments to follow suit”, concluded Ms. Coomaraswamy.

 

The Special Representative will be in Washington on September 17 and 18 to engage with various parties on the issue of child soldiers. On Wednesday she will participate to a Policy Forum on Children and Armed Conflict sponsored by the U.S. Department of State and United States Institute of Peace (USIP). On Thursday she will meet with legislators and other stake holders to advance the agenda.

 

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For further information, please contact:

Ms. Laurence Gérard, Communications Officer, Office of the SRSG for Children and Armed Conflict. Phone: +1 917-657-5622- gerardl@un.org