Foreign Policy Blogs

Uganda Child Soldier Awareness Week…Agreement Signed With LRA

Uganda Child Soldier Awareness Week...Agreement Signed With LRA

Uganda is Africa's oldest conflict Since 1987, the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) has wreaked havoc on the people of northern Uganda, those bearing the brunt of this violence are children. Some 30,000 children have been abducted from their families and used as soldiers or sex slaves, while 12,000 civilians have been killed and 2 million displaced. Girls are often forced to be the ‘wives’ of their commanding officers, only to bare a new generation of child soldiers and sex slaves.

The government thus far has been unable to do much to subdue the LRA, which often uses neighboring Sudan for the launch of their attacks. However progress may be possible as while other talks have failed, the latest talks in Juba, Sudan have now ended with the LRA signing an historic agreement. The agreement, which was signed Monday February 18, 2008, on how to deal with war crimes committed during the 21 year old conflict in northern Uganda.

“We have agreed that severe crimes committed by the LRA during the war will be tried under a special division of the High Court in Uganda,” said government spokesman Capt. Chris Magezi.

Why the sudden change of heart after a year and a half of talks? The agreement will allow the LRA's 'serious’ crimes to avoid trial at the ICC. As for Joseph Kony, the LRA's leader and his top two commanders, the ICC issued a statement yesterday declaring that their current ICC indictments would still stand. See more on the situation and earlier talks in my previous post, Child Soldiers in Uganda.

The news of the agreement has left many with mixed feelings of hopefulness and skepticism. Human rights organizations such as Amnesty International felt the agreement was only an unacceptable way around the law, while others such as Human Rights Watch appeared to feel it was a step in the right direction. Regardless in a conflict with such idleness for anything other than violence, all talks and agreements are a step in the right direction.

Uganda Child Soldier Awareness Week...Agreement Signed With LRA

This week marks Uganda's Child Soldier Awareness week, so please take this opportunity to learn more about the situation in Uganda and of child soldiers across the globe, of which there are some 300,000. Please see my other postings on child soldiers.

What Can you do?

A former child soldier's life is not returned to them once the gun is removed from their hand, we must ensure that they are not forgotten. Former child soldiers remain at risk for further violations, such as physical, mental and sexual abuse, they are also at high risk for HIV/AIDS, and are also at risk to become abusers themselves. As a global community we must act to ensure that not only prevention plans, laws and disarmament policies are put into place, but that adequate and extensive rehabilitation of former child soldiers is given top priority.

Contact your Representative about the use of child soldiers, and the the importance of US support in international law and the passing of the aforementioned bills. Show your support for child soldiers and help fund DDR programs, and most of all use your voice to share the plight of child soldiers around the world, and the urgency to end this practice.

Links:
Child Soldiers 1379 Report
Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers
World Revolution
The Middle East North Africa (MENA) Regional Network to Stop the Use of Children as Soldiers
Stolen Childhood
Children with Guns
War Child
Optional protocol on the involvement of children in armed conflict
The Child Soldiers Project
USA Support Needed for International Campaign to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers
Choike – Child Soldiers – In depth Information and Great Links
Human Rights Watch – Child Soldiers
Anna Kari – Has some amazing photos of Ugandan child soldiers
Invisible Children – Documentary about Child Soldiers and Night Commuters in Northern Uganda
NPR – Child Soldiers Fight Forgotten War in Uganda
Uganda Watch Blogspot
Arrest Warrant for Joseph Kony

 

Author

Cassandra Clifford

Cassandra Clifford is the Founder and Executive Director of Bridge to Freedom Foundation, which works to enhance and improve the services and opportunities available to survivors of modern slavery. She holds an M.A., International Relations from Dublin City University in Ireland, as well as a B.A., Marketing and A.S., Fashion Merchandise/Marketing from Johnson & Wales University in Providence, Rhode Island.

Cassandra has previously worked in both the corporate and charity sector for various industries and causes, including; Child Trafficking, Learning Disabilities, Publishing, Marketing, Public Relations and Fashion. Currently Cassandra is conducting independent research on the use of rape as a weapon of war, as well as America’s Pimp Culture and its Impact on Modern Slavery. In addition to her many purists Cassandra is also working to develop a series of children’s books.

Cassandra currently resides in the Washington, D.C. metro area, where she also writes for the Examiner, as the DC Human Rights Examiner, and serves as an active leadership member of DC Stop Modern Slavery.


Areas of Focus:
Children's Rights; Human Rights; Conflict