Bishop Wilmer calls for action against the recruitment of child soldiers

In the fight against the recruitment of child soldiers worldwide, the Chairman of the German Commission for Justice and Peace, Bishop Heiner Wilmer, has called for greater commitment. "Today's 'Red Hand Day' is an urgent appeal to all of us to step up the fight against this crime. Let's work together to create a world in which every child can grow up safely and in #peace," said the Hildesheim bishop on Monday on Platform X. "Every Red Hand Counts!"

Every year on 12 February, attention is drawn to the use of child soldiers in war and crisis zones. According to international estimates, around a quarter of a million children and young people under the age of 18 are deployed as soldiers, particularly in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Girls in particular are also at risk of sexual violence. The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child has prohibited the use of child soldiers since 2002 in an additional protocol, which 172 states have ratified to date, including Russia and Ukraine. Every year on 12 February, the Day of Action commemorates the entry into force of the Additional Protocol.

According to Bishop Wilmer, children are particularly at risk in countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia and Syria. The Catholic Church is working worldwide to help those affected in their respective places of residence through educational programmes, the construction of shelters and psychosocial support. (KNA)

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