Renewing Commitment to End Recruitment of Children Into War

Narrator: At a high level conference in New York, UNICEF Executive
Director, Anthony Lake asked world leaders to make a sustained
commitment to helping UNICEF and its partners release children
from armed conflict and support them on their return home.

Anthony Lake: Girls especially need these services when they return home often
carry, not only the emotional scars and sexual abuse but the baby is
born as a result and the stigma that flows from both.

The Paris Commitments and Principles provide the framework to
guarantee the rights of children to their childhoods to monitor
violations of those rights and to investigate and prosecute those
who recruit children for use by armed forces.

Just as important, they provide invaluable guidance to the
organization and people who actively seek these children’s release
and works so hard to help them return to their communities and
lead productive lives.

Over half of the UN members, states support the Paris
Commitments. Today, we are very glad to welcome 11 new
endorsements bringing the total number to 95. It is time to finish
the job by establishing the early, flexible and sustained funding
mechanisms we need to ensure that the Paris Commitments and
Principles are honored by action. I repeat ‘action’.

So today, we call on all member states to support actively and
generously our efforts to fully implement the Paris Commitments
and the Paris Principles. Even a small investment can yield huge
benefits in the lives of these children and they desperately need our
help.

Narrator: You’ve been watching UNICEF Television. For more information
visit UNICEF.org, Unite for Children.