End the use of child soldiers

Amnesty International

Please click on and sign End the Use of Child Soldiers
Source: Amnesty International

From South Sudan down to the DRC, the Lord’s Resistance Army, other armed groups, and all too often the national armies of the countries in which they operate, forcibly recruit children into armed conflict.

While the United States is supporting efforts to apprehend LRA leader Joseph Kony, it must also ensure that other armed groups and governments in the region cease recruiting child soldiers and help rehabilitate the children who are already soldiers.

Message Text

I am writing to urge you to take a strong stand against the use of child soldiers by fully complying with the Child Soldier Prevention Act.  With so much of the world’s attention on Joseph Kony, I was shocked to learn that Kony’s case represents just the tip of the iceberg in a region, and that children are being forcibly recruited and used in armed conflict by other armed groups as well as governments.

I believe that effective pressure should be brought to bear on any and all armed groups and governments throughout the Great Lakes region of Africa who continue to recruit or abduct children. I also strongly support programs to help child soldiers demobilize, begin their rehabilitation and regain a semblance of normal life.

I commend the U.S. Government for assisting efforts to apprehend Joseph Kony.  I urge you to also send a strong message other armed groups and governments in the region so that they understand that the recruitment and use of children in armed conflict will not be tolerated. To that end, I ask that you please comply with the Child Soldier Prevention Act by prohibiting military assistance to the DRC until the government meets specific benchmarks.  These benchmarks should include: 1) demonstrating that it no longer recruits child soldiers; 2) showing concrete progress in demobilizing or releasing children from existing forces; and 3)engaging in credible efforts to render persons suspected of recruiting child soldiers to justice.

childhood,
supposed to be
a time of fun
and play.
but for child
soldiers,
that part of their
life is torn away.
forced to maim and kill
rape and victimize.
there is nor “normal life”
after this,
we sadly surmise

Karen Lyons Kalmenson