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[5 February 2007] - Ten years after international guidelines were established to stamp out the recruitment and use of child soldiers, under-age fighters are still actively being recruited in at least 13 countries. Fighting forces are recruiting and using child soldiers in Afghanistan, Burundi, Chad, Colombia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ivory Coast, Myanmar, Nepal, Phillipines, Sri Lanka, Somalia, Sudan and Uganda. Government forces are also implicated in countries such as Sudan, where the SPLA is re-recruiting children who have already been released from their own ranks. Despite the fact that the Cape Town Principles, guidelines to eradicate the use of child soldiers and protect those released, were established by the international community in 1997, the situation is still dire. Hundreds of thousands of children are still living in misery due to association with armed groups and forces. Child soldiers are subjected to brutal intimidation, often forced to commit atrocities as military ‘training’, and then used on the frontline. Whether violently abducted, coerced into signing up or ‘volunteering’ because they have no safe alternative, they get no access to school or healthcare and are exposed to abuse and exploitation. Girls taken to become army 'wives' are often subjected to physical, sexual and emotional abuse. When released, ex-child soldiers are frequently rejected by society, refused access to school, and find it impossible to re-enter 'normal' life after being immersed in violence for so long. Girls as young as 12 have to deal with rape and care for babies in isolation without any support from the community. Bisimwa, 14, Democratic Republic Congo On 5 February, the international community has a crucial chance to improve the lives of all children associated with armed groups when they meet in Paris to establish new guidelines - the Paris Principles - to help eradicate the use of child soldiers. Johanna MacVeigh, Protection Advisor, Save the Children, said “Being recruited by armed forces has a devastating effect on children’s lives. They are immersed in violence, are subject to terrible abuse and are forced to forfeit love, play, education and hope. It is inconceivable that ten years after international guidelines were set up to protect children from recruitment, so many are still being horrifically exploited. Children can’t wait. Governments and the UN must show their support for the Paris Principles and commit to stamping out the use of child soldiers and looking after those who have been released.” Save the Children is calling on: Visit: http://www.crin.org/resources/infoDetail.asp?ID=12463&flag=news
Children as young as eight are being recruited by the government army of Southern Sudan.
“When I went to war it wasn’t a good life because I carried guns. I don’t know how many people I killed. Some of my friends died. I left the armed group because I was about to die of cold. Here we suffer too much.”
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