Children’s rights

Presentation of the conference (PDF, 738.3 kb)

including :
  the presentation of the conference
  the conference program
  the actions of France
  UNICEF action
  the history of international mobiliszation
  testimonies
  Practical information
  Cape Town principles

At the initiative of Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy, France hosted an international conference in Paris on children involved in armed forces and armed groups, “Let us Free the Children of War,” on February 5 and 6, 2007.

Co-presided by Mr. Douste-Blazy and Ann M. Veneman, executive director of UNICEF, and in the presence of Radhika Coomaraswamy, the UN secretary-general’s special representative for children in armed conflict, the conference brought together representatives of nearly 60 countries, including many ministers, the European Union, many international organizations, including the United Nations, and representatives of civil society, in particular former child soldiers and NGO leaders active on the ground.

The number of children recruited or used by armed forces and armed groups is estimated at 250,000 in 2007. The purpose of the conference is the adoption by the states present of a text called the Paris Commitments to stop the illegal and unacceptable use of children in armed conflict. The conference called for the preparation of new programs to care for, protect and reintegrate child soldiers by reaffirming the active support of states for Security Council resolutions on the issue and providing political support to disseminating the “Paris Principles,” drafted under UNICEF auspices, which update the “Cape Town Principles” (1979). These principles define the framework for effective international on the ground in light of the experiences acquired over the past ten years.

The proceedings will be organized into three sessions dealing with the priorities which are: the unconditional release of children involved in armed forces and armed groups, their permanent reintegration in society where a place has to be made for them, and lastly strategies to prevent the recruitment or use of children by armed forces and armed groups. During the conference the speakers will include such “major witnesses” as Marguerite Barankitse of Burundi and Ishmael Beah, former child soldier in Sierra Leone.

France accords great importance to the issue of child soldiers. Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy went to Uganda and Burundi in February 2006 in this context. France is co-financing reintegration programs for children soldiers in Congo Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Sierra Leone. It has chaired the Security Council working group on children involved in armed forces and armed groups since it was founded in November 2005.

At the conference Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy presented prizes to the young winners of a drawing competition organized on the theme of child soldiers by Le Petit Quotidien, Editions Play Bac, on Monday, February 5 at 7 p.m. at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The ceremony was followed by the official presentation to the minister and the UN secretary-general’s special representative for children in armed conflict of the petition launched by UNICEF France to encourage the demobilization and care of child soldiers. The petition collected 235,000 signatures.

Paris Conference : Principles (PDF, 376.6 kb)

  The Paris Commitments to protect children from unlawful recruitment or use by armed forces or armed groups

  Conclusions of Workshop 1: “Combating climate Change”

Official statements

  Opening speech by M. Philippe Douste-Blazy, Minister of Foreign Affairs (excerpts)(Paris, 5 February 2007)

"Between 250,000 and 300,000 of our world’s children are today associated with armed forces and groups. The exact number isn’t known. Under 18 years of age, these girls and boys aren’t just combatants. They are also used as auxiliaries, messengers, are tasked with demanding ransoms, spying and often sexually exploited.

So they become children who are lost for peace, lost for the development of their countries. Because even if the conflicts end, their reintegration into civil society is too often impossible. Let’s not forget that at 18, many of these youngsters have already lived half their lives, in countries where life expectancy rarely exceeds 40. This intolerable situation presents multitudinous, simultaneously human, security and economic challenges. Today it’s our primary responsibility, in our common interest, to break this vicious circle, which continues, to virtual indifference, to fuel the dragging-on and spread of conflicts, and profoundly handicaps any prospect of sustainable development."

  Statement made by Mrs Radhika Coomaraswamy, the UN secretary-general’s special representative for children in armed conflict (Februar 5, 2007)

A few photos from UNICEF

  See all the photos of UNICEF

More information

  The whole dossier on child soldiers
  The website of the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for children and arm conflict