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Next Steps for the Security Council towards ending violations against Children affected by Armed Conflict

13 February 2008

Watchlist and the Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers published a joint briefing note The Security Council and Children and Armed Conflict: Next Steps Towards Ending Violations Against Children,  in advance of the UN Security Council Open Debate on Children and Armed Conflict that was held on February 12. The document is available here.

Watchlist launches new study on the implementation of the UN-led Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism (MRM)

January 30, 2008

The Watchlist on Children and Armed Conflict is pleased to present its global study on the implementation of the UN-led Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism (MRM), a key component of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1612. The findings of this study are presented in a series of five reports: four country-specific reports on Colombia, DR Congo, Sri Lanka and Uganda along with a global report entitled Getting it Done and Doing it Right. This study is being launched today in New York.

The implementation of the MRM is an important step in improving the protection of children affected by armed conflict, and has met with many successes since its inception. However, some surmountable challenges remain. In an effort to address these challenges, Watchlist undertook a global study on monitoring and reporting and the implementation of the MRM. This study presents key findings on the participation of NGOs in the MRM, maintaining security and respecting rights, leveraging networks and resources and, triggering timely responses to violations.

The global report is available here: [PDF] also available in French [PDF]. The country-specific reports can be downloaded here: Colombia [PDF] also in Spanish [PDF], DR Congo [PDF], also in French [PDF], Sri Lanka [PDF] and Uganda [PDF]. Spanish versions of the global report and the Colombia report will be forthcoming.

Former girl-soldier interviewed on Al-Jazeera

This clip profiles Madeleine, a former child soldier from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) who was interviewed by Al-Jazeera TV in 2007. Please view this clip and learn more about her compelling story and those of thousands of other girls with similar experiences.

Watchlist contributes to July 2007 issue of Forced Migration Review

The July 2007 issue of Forced Migration Review "Enhancing Southern capacity: rhetoric and reality," features two articles by the Watchlist on Children and Armed Conflict. One article entitled "Time to reassess capacity-building partnerships" argues that international NGOs need to seek ways to foster more equitable relationships with national NGOs. The other article entitled "Protecting Sudan’s children" includes key recommendations to assist and support children in Sudan, based on findings in Watchlist’s April 2007 report "Sudan’s Children at a Crossroads: An Urgent Need for Protection." Both articles can be accessed at the Forced Migration Review website.

Watchlist launches new report on children affected by armed conflict in Sudan

18 April 2007

The Watchlist on Children and Armed Conflict is pleased to present our latest report, "Sudan’s Children at a Crossroads: An Urgent Need for Protection" (April 2007). This report is being launched today at parallel events in Nairobi and New York. Sudan’s Children at a Crossroads outlines the continued and extensive aggressions committed against children throughout Sudan and also documents improved security and access to services for children in the South.

The report addresses violations against children in six major categories identified by the United Nations Security Council. These categories include killing and maiming, rape and other forms of sexual violence, abduction, denial of humanitarian assistance, attacks on schools and hospitals and recruitment and use of children into armed forces and groups. In addition, the report discusses various other violations that continue to be committed against children and their families, such as forced labor, displacement and trafficking.

A four page summary is available here: [PDF] [HTML], also available in Arabic [PDF]. The full report can be downloaded here: [PDF] [HTML], also in Arabic [PDF]. The press release here: [English] [French] [Arabic] (all as PDF).

Children and Armed Conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

17 January 2007

A Watchlist article titled Children and Armed Conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has been published in the latest edition of the UN Chronicle. The article features a summary of Watchlist’s 2006 report Struggling to Survive: Children in Armed Conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo as well as recommendations made to the United Nations Security Council. It is available online from the UN Chronicle website.

Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary General for Children and Armed Conflict to launch its Strategic Framework for 2006-2007 and New Website

October 18th, 2006

The presentation of the strategic framework, the website and a short documentary on child soldiers will be followed by a panel discussion with Ambassador Henri-Paul Normandin (DPR of the Mission of Canada to the UN), Ambassador Donald Steinberg (International Crisis Group), Julia Freedson (Watchlist), and Ishmael Beah.

The event will take place on Wednesday 18 October 2006, from 1:15 to 2:30pm in Conference room 9 at the UN Secretariat in New York.

Watchlist representative speaks at United Nations Security Council Open Debate on Children and Armed Conflict

August 09th, 2006

In a rare opportunity, Watchlist was invited by the Government of France to speak on behalf of civil society organizations at the Security Council Open Debate on 24 July 2006. Mr. Bukeni Tete Waruzi Beck, Watchlist NGO partner from eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, represented the Watchlist network at the Open Debate. Mr. Beck’s remarks to the Security Council are below.

The remarks are available in the following languages:

• English
• French

WATCHLIST CALLS FOR SUSTAINABLE AND STRONG PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN UN AND CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS

July 24th, 2006

New York - In a new policy paper, The Power of Partnership: Guiding Principles for Partnerships to End Violations Against Children During Armed Conflict, Watchlist calls for the development of sustainable and strong partnerships between UN and civil society organizations in order to protect children from violations committed against them in armed conflict situations.

This paper focuses on UN and civil society partnerships as a crucial element in ensuring the success and sustainability of the nascent UN Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism established by UN Security Council Resolution 1612. It identifies “Guiding Principles for Building Effective Partnerships,” including:

• transparency
• shared goals: halting violations and seeking remedies
• guidance provided by local partners
• open communication
• equality and mutual respect in identifying problems and generating solutions
• adequate training for all partners involved.

Watchlist also makes recommendations to various UN bodies and agencies, UN member states, civil society organizations and donors for ensuring the successful implementation of the Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism and responding to reported violations against children.

The launch of The Power of Partnerships coincides with today’s UN Security Council Open Debate on Children and Armed Conflict marking the one year anniversary of the Council’s Resolution 1612.

• The Power of Partnership: Guiding Principles for Partnerships to End Violations Against Children during Armed Conflict, July 2006
  [ PDF | HTML ]

CHILDREN CONTINUE TO BE RAVAGED BY ARMED CONFLICT IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO DESPITE SIGNS OF PROGRESS

April 26th, 2006

Kinshasa and New York – Children in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) continue to endure some of the most inhumane treatment found anywhere in the world, despite outward signs of progress, according to a new report by the Watchlist on Children and Armed Conflict. The report, Struggling to Survive: Children in Armed Conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, documents dozens of continued, pervasive and egregious violations against children by all armed forces and groups operating in DRC and urges that immediate actions be taken to protect Congolese children and to hold the perpetrators of crimes against children accountable.

• Struggling to Survive: Children in Armed Conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, April 2006
  • English Version: [ HTML | PDF ]
  • French Version: [ HTML | PDF ]

CHILDREN ATTACKED DURING NEPAL PROTESTS, WATCHLIST URGENTLY CALLS ON SECURITY FORCES TO HALT EXCESSIVE USE OF FORCE AGAINST CHILDREN

April 24th, 2006

New York and Kathmandu – The Watchlist on Children and Armed Conflict calls on Nepal’s security forces to urgently stop using excessive force against children participating in protests. The Nepali government security forces have beaten, shot and used tear gas and other forms of violence against children and adolescents who have participated in protests in Kathmandu and other parts of Nepal. Watchlist further calls on parents and guardians to keep children away from any protest activities that could turn violent.

PPCC APPEALS TO THE CONCERNED PARTIES NOT TO USE FORCE AGAINST CHILDREN DURING THE ONGOING PROTESTS IN NEPAL

April 19th, 2006

Partnerships for Protecting Children in Armed Conflict (PPCC), a network of national and international human rights and humanitarian organizations, appeals to all parties to conflict and to those attending protests to make the protection of children and adolescents a top priority during protest activities. PPCC calls on the security forces not to use force against children participating in the ongoing nation-wide protests. It has been widely observed that a large number of children have been taking part in the ongoing national protests, and that many young people have been on the frontline of the protests and have been seriously injured.