NO MORE CHILD SOLDIERS! Round Table Conference with Testimony & Exposition of pictures from a former African child soldier

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csMONDAY 26 NOVEMBER 2012, 12.00 - 14.00
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, ROOM A5G315

hosted by MEP Katarína NEVEĎALOVÁ (S&D)

PRESS RELEASE

A round table conference on the use of child soldiers will be hosted by MEP Katarína NEVEĎALOVÁ (S&D) in the European Parliament in Brussels on Monday, the 26th of November 2012. During this conference the European Bureau for Conscientious Objection will present a testimony and an exposition of pictures from a former African child soldier who has recently fled to Europe. Reflections by MEPs and civil society organisations will follow, as well as a Q&A session, and the closing session with the conclusions and next steps.

This round table conference is organised with the opportunity of the Universal Children’s Day (November 20th) and the 10th anniversary year of entry into force of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict.

Background information
Status of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict: United Nations Treaty Collection
Among the 47 Council of Europe member states:

  • 2, Albania and Georgia, have not yet signed the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict and 1, Estonia, has not yet ratified it.
  • 5 can or do, in certain circumstances, take recruits aged under 18 into compulsory military service, or training: Austria (option to enrol for military service from the age of 17, with parental approval), Belgium (compulsory recruitment age is 17 in wartime), Estonia (17-year-olds could be liable for call-up), Russian Federation (compulsory recruitment age is 18 with basic military training at 15 or 16) and San Marino (compulsory recruitment age is 16 in time of war or emergency).
  • 15 have a voluntary recruitment age under 18: Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Cyprus, Estonia, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Luxembourg, Moldova, Netherlands, Norway, Russian Federation and United Kingdom.

More info: EBCO’s CoE report 2011 & Child Soldiers International report 2012

Moderator: Sam BIESEMANS, EBCO Vice-President

Programme

12.00 - 12.10 Opening speech by MEP Katarína NEVEĎALOVÁ, S&D
12.10 - 12.40 Testimony from a former African child soldier (video)
12.40 - 12.55 Speech by Alexia TSOUNI, EBCO Coordinator
12.55 - 13.10 Reflections by MEPs
13.10 - 13.20 Comments by Lloyd RUSSELL-MOYLE, European Youth Forum Vice-President
13.20 - 13.30 Comments by Luis Alvarado MARTINEZ, AEGEE-Europe / European Students' Forum President
13.30 - 13.40 Comments by Francesco CANDELARI, International Fellowship Of Reconciliation Coordinator
13.40 - 14.00 Questions & answers, conclusions and next steps

Press contact persons


yiaThis conference has been funded also with the support from the European Union, Programme Youth in Action. It reflects the views only of EBCO and the participants; the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information provided..