Text:

Source App: [CHILD SOLDIERS: News release on upcoming Maputo conference 19990407 - Inbox - Netscape Folder]

Subject:

CHILD SOLDIERS: News release on upcoming Maputo conference [19990407]

Date:

Thu, 8 Apr 1999 00:23:21 +0100

From:

"serv. informazioni Congosol" <congosol@skyol.it>

To:

gruppi 1 2 3 <congosol@skyol.it>

MAPUTO CONFERENCE TO SEEK END TO THE
USE OF CHILDREN AS SOLDIERS IN AFRICA

News Release

The International Save the Children Alliance and the Coalition to Stop the
Use of Child Soldiers are pleased to announce the convening of an African
Conference on the Use of Children as Soldiers in Maputo from 19-22 April at
the Hotel Rovuma in Maputo. The aim of the Conference, which is being
hosted by the Government of Mozambique, is to promote concrete action to
end the military recruitment and participation in armed conflict of all
children under 18 years of age. This is in accordance with regional
standards in Africa as well as national legislation in the overwhelming
majority of Africa countries.

Among the speakers will be Ms Graca Machel, President of the Community
Development Foundation in Mozambique, Mr. Olara Otunnu, Special
Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Children and
Armed Conflict, and Ms Angelina Atyam, Founder Member of Concerned Parents
Association of Uganda, and winner of the UN Human Rights Prize for 1998.
More than 150 participants are expected to attend the Conference, which
will bring together African Governments, representatives of regional and
intergovernmental organisations, including the Organisation of African
Unity, the United Nations and the International Red Cross and Red Crescent
Movement, as well as African and international non-governmental
organisations. Key governments from other regions of the world are also
participating.

The Conference, the first of four regional gatherings to be convened by the
Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers in 1999, will reflect on newly
conducted research into national recruitment legislation and practice
throughout Africa, as well as child participation in both governmental and
non-governmental armed forces in conflicts across the continent. The
research study will be formally launched on 19 April, the first day of the
Conference. Other regional conferences will take place in Latin America and
the Caribbean (July), Europe (September), and Asia (October).

The Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers was formed in May 1998 and
is headed by a Steering Committee of seven international NGOs: Amnesty
International, Defence for Children International, Human Rights Watch,
International Federation Terre des Hommes, the International Save the
Children Alliance, the Jesuit Refugee Service, and the Quakers United
Nations Office, Geneva. In addition, national coalitions have been set up
in more than 20 countries. The International Committee of the Red Cross,
the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, and
UNICEF have observer status with the Coalition.

Maputo, 1 April 1999

For further information please contact Ms Kai Crooks, Conference
Coordinator or Ms Mali Nilsson, Project Coordinator, at the Conference
Secretariat, c/o UNICEF, Tel: (2581) 491684/7; Fax: (2581) 491679; E-mail:
office@unicef.uem.mz

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