WRITTEN QUESTION E-2789/02

by Mihail Papayannakis (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(4 October 2002)

Subject: Child soldiers

According to a recent Unicef report, more than 300 000 children are serving as soldiers in government forces and paramilitary and rebel units in a total of 33 armed conflicts throughout the world. Furthermore, the involvement of children in military conflicts has increased over the last few years by between 30 % and 45 %. In particular 120 000 children are fighting in Africa, while in the ten-year period from 1985 to 1995 an estimated two million children were killed in wars, four million suffered physical disabilities and more than ten million suffered from psychological traumas.

Given the gravity of this matter, could the Commission state what measures the EU intends to take to put an end to the phenomenon of the involvement of minors in armed conflicts and civil wars? Is the Commission considering the possibility of launching an initiative to ensure that all EU Member States and the States Parties of the UN ratify the supplementary Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict which has been signed by 110 countries but has not so far been ratified?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(15 November 2002)

The Commission notes that the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict has in fact entered into force on 12 February 2002 (with recent information indicating that 111 countries have signed the instrument and 42 have ratified it). As regards ratification by Member States, Belgium, Denmark, Spain, Italy, Austria and Finland have already ratified the Optional Protocol. The Union has repeatedly emphasised its support for the Optional Protocol, most recently in the Third Committee of the 57th session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly currently being held in New York. In its statement on the Rights of the Child, the Union urged all States which have not done so to ratify and implement the Optional Protocol and also expressed support for the work of the Special Representative, Mr Otunnu, in this field.

It is also worth noting that the Plan of Action adopted at the UN Special Session on Children in May 2002 includes commitments relating to childen and armed conflict.

As regards addressing this issue through Community funding, the Commission channels concrete support to children affected by armed conflict through several funding initiatives. Children are a cross-cutting priority for humanitarian assistance delivered through the Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO). This commitment is reflected in ECHO's strategy and in concrete projects, advocacy work inside the Community and in research aimed at improving the international humanitarian response.

In the field ECHO pays special attention to protecting and assisting children. Building on standards, obligations and principles spelled out in the Convention on the Rights of the Child, specific projects on humanitarian assistance for conflict-affected children were supported throughout 2001 and 2002 (examples include: demobilisation, rehabilitation and reintegration projects, health and nutrition projects (Sudan, Colombia, Palestine, Afghanistan), psychosocial support (Sierra Leone, Sudan, West Bank, Gaza Strip and Lebanon), the funding of schools in emergency camps for displaced persons (Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, Sierra Leone), family tracing and reunification (Colombia), etc.

At policy level, ECHO funded research activities. As for advocacy, ECHO produced brochures, funded photographic exhibitions and jointly organised and participated in Conferences on the plight of child soldiers. Furthermore, ECHO is working on a new initiative on

data collection as the lack of reliable data is detrimental to the international advocacy efforts and it is also a major obstacle to improving humanitarian response. The project will be led by the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (Unicef).

These efforts form an integral part of the promotion and protection of human rights within humanitarian operations as well as in linking relief, rehabilitation and development.

Under the European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights (Chapter B7-7) for 2000, support has included funding for a project undertaken by Unicef in Sierra Leone regarding the protection and reintegration of children associated with the fighting forces and other children separated from their families as a result of the conflict. In addition, under the European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR) budget for 2001 a project aimed at the social re-integration of young ex-combatants is being implemented by AFMAL(1) and Caritas Makemi. A project in favour of children victims of war, implemented in Ethiopia and Angola by Alisei(2), ended recently.

As regards awareness-raising the EIDHR is funding the Earth Action project: The Convention on the Rights of the Child. Building global support for implementation. The overall project objective is to educate and raise awareness of civil society and to promote the rights of the child, including those of child soldiers and homeless children, by informing citizen groups, member of parliaments, other influential individuals, journalists and young people. Children's Rights will be mainstreamed in all the actions implemented by the EIDHR over the period 2002-2004, including action for conflict prevention and dealing with its consequences.

(1) Associazione con i Fatebenefratelli per i Malati Lontani.

(2) Associazione per la cooperazione internazionale e l'aiuto umanitario.