|
May
7 and 8, 2003
Washington, DC
United States Secretary
of Labor Elaine L. Chao is hosting representatives of the world
community as they gather to participate in a U.S. Department of
Labor conference to heighten the global response to the exploitation
of child soldiers. The conference, Children in the Crossfire: Prevention
and Reintegration of Child Soldiers, will be held May 7-8, 2003,
in Washington, D.C.
The use of child soldiers
as combatants, sex slaves, guards or spies in conflicts worldwide
is well documented. Testimonies by former child soldiers describing
their fear, grief, and the violence of which they have been a part,
have led the international community to condemn this practice as
an affront to humanity and a clear violation of international law.
The U.S. Department of
Labor's commitment to address the issue is established under International
Labor Organization Convention No. 182, ratified by the U.S. in 1999,
which identifies the forced or compulsory recruitment of child soldiers,
and other work that is harmful to the health, safety or morals of
children, as worst forms of child labor. Between fiscal years 1995
and 2002, the Department's Bureau of International Labor Affairs
provided over $230 million in technical assistance to combat international
child labor, and is currently working in over 50 countries to advance
this commitment and assist vulnerable populations, including child
soldiers. Furthermore, in December 2002, the United States ratified
the United Nations Optional Protocol on the Use of Children in Armed
Conflict, which raises the minimum compulsory recruitment age to
18 for service in State Party armed forces.
Using ILO Convention No.
182 as a starting point, the U.S. Department of Labor, led by Secretary
Elaine L. Chao, is taking a leadership role in the global call to
action by promoting discussion and analysis of ongoing efforts in
war-torn countries to reintegrate former child soldiers and rebuild
their communities. The labor perspective of this conference will
focus special attention on prevention and reintegration programs,
including education and job skills training, which contribute to
sustainable and equitable economic development, peace, and stability.
Children in the Crossfire
will advance discussion on solutions in the areas of prevention,
demobilization, and reintegration. It will provide a unique opportunity
for exchange among some 500 stakeholders from around the world,
including donor governments, UN agencies, non-governmental organizations,
researchers, the media, and individuals who formerly served as child
soldiers.
The event will be held in Washington, D.C. during
May 7 and May 8, 2003. The first day will include high-profile speakers
and experts on the topic. The following day will consist of moderated
panel discussions and case studies focusing on specific themes.
| |
|
