Overview: Schoolchildren, children affected by armed conflict, youth, and community and civil society groups around the world are mobilising to send one million “red hands” to the United Nations in New York by early 2009. On February 12, 2009, the anniversary of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict, children from all continents hope to present a portion of these “red hands” to the UN Secretary-General to emphasise the need for international action to end the use of child soldiers. Background to the Campaign: The Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers adopted the “red hand” symbol in 1998 as part of its worldwide campaign against the use of child soldiers. After the entry into force of the Optional Protocol on February 12, 2002, Coalition partners have used this day as “Red Hand” day, with many organising local events utilising the red hand to raise awareness about the child soldier issue. In 2007, Coalition partners in Germany proposed a global campaign to collect one million red hands for presentation at the UN on February 12, 2009. The campaign encourages participants, particularly schoolchildren, to make hand prints with red ink on A4 paper, together with a personal message about their desire to end the use of child soldiers. Students and other groups in Austria, Belgium, Canada, the DRC, Germany, Switzerland, Uganda, the United States, West Africa, and elsewhere have created and collected tens of thousands of red hands. In conflict-affected countries, former child soldiers are part of this effort. Examples of these events can be seen at www.redhandday.org. Participating in the campaign is easy. The campaign asks for three simple actions: 1) Organise an event where participants make hand prints with red ink on A4 (or 8 ½ x 11) paper, together with a personal message about their desire to end the use of child soldiers; 2) Take photos or videos of your event and upload your photos to www.redhandday.org; 3) Send your red hands to one of the collection points on the attached flyer, or to “Red Hand Campaign” c/o HRW, 350 Fifth Avenue, 34th Floor, NY, NY 10118. Further information
RED HAND DAY CAMPAIGN 2009: One Million Hands against Child Soldiers
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Link :
http://www.crin.org/docs/Nov_20_flyer_-_Red_Hand_Day_Campaign[1].pdf
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