HRW_Red Hand Campaign to Stop the Use of Child Soliders
H.E. Mr. Robert Aisi - Ambassador of Papua New Guinea to the UN
H.E. Mr. Ahmed Al-Jarman - Ambassador of United Arab Emirates to the UN
H.E. Mr. Datuk Hamidon Ali - Ambassador of Malaysia to the UN
H.E. Dr. John W. Ashe - Ambassador of Antigua and Barbuda to the UN
H.E. Mr. Victor Da Silva Angelo - Ambassador of Central African Republic to the UN
H.E. Mr. Alcide Djedje - Ambassador of Cote d'Ivoire to the UN
H.E. Mr. Alpha Ibrahima Sow - Ambassador of Guinea to the UN
H.E. Dr. Donatus St. Aimee - Ambassador of St. Lucia to the UN
H.E. Mr. Grigol Vashadze - Ambassador of Georgia to the UN
H.E. Mr. Dawit Yohannes - Ambassador of Ethiopia to the UN
Your Excellency:
I am writing to urge your government to sign and ratify the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict.
Child soldiers are fighting in at least 14 armed conflicts around the world. They are often recruited through force or deception, and exposed to horrific violence. They may begin as messengers or porters, but too often end up on the front lines of combat. Some are forced to commit atrocities and many girls are sexually exploited. They are denied an education and robbed of their childhood. Many do not survive.
This year is the tenth anniversary of the adoption of the Optional Protocol by the United Nations General Assembly. This important treaty, which has been ratified by 131 countries around the world, prohibits the forced recruitment of children under the age of 18 or their participation in hostilities. However, to date your country has neither signed nor ratified the optional protocol.
I respectfully ask you to use your influence to ensure that your government signs and ratifies the optional protocol as soon as possible in order to make clear its firm commitment to end the use of child soldiers.
Thank you for your consideration.
H.E. Mr. Ahmed Al-Jarman - Ambassador of United Arab Emirates to the UN
H.E. Mr. Datuk Hamidon Ali - Ambassador of Malaysia to the UN
H.E. Dr. John W. Ashe - Ambassador of Antigua and Barbuda to the UN
H.E. Mr. Victor Da Silva Angelo - Ambassador of Central African Republic to the UN
H.E. Mr. Alcide Djedje - Ambassador of Cote d'Ivoire to the UN
H.E. Mr. Alpha Ibrahima Sow - Ambassador of Guinea to the UN
H.E. Dr. Donatus St. Aimee - Ambassador of St. Lucia to the UN
H.E. Mr. Grigol Vashadze - Ambassador of Georgia to the UN
H.E. Mr. Dawit Yohannes - Ambassador of Ethiopia to the UN
Your Excellency:
I am writing to urge your government to sign and ratify the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict.
Child soldiers are fighting in at least 14 armed conflicts around the world. They are often recruited through force or deception, and exposed to horrific violence. They may begin as messengers or porters, but too often end up on the front lines of combat. Some are forced to commit atrocities and many girls are sexually exploited. They are denied an education and robbed of their childhood. Many do not survive.
This year is the tenth anniversary of the adoption of the Optional Protocol by the United Nations General Assembly. This important treaty, which has been ratified by 131 countries around the world, prohibits the forced recruitment of children under the age of 18 or their participation in hostilities. However, to date your country has neither signed nor ratified the optional protocol.
I respectfully ask you to use your influence to ensure that your government signs and ratifies the optional protocol as soon as possible in order to make clear its firm commitment to end the use of child soldiers.
Thank you for your consideration.