Preventing child soldier recruitment in peacekeeping

With Canada’s support the Henry L. Stimson Center aims to increase the effectiveness of United Nations (UN) peace operations to prevent the recruitment and use of child soldiers by: improving the UN Member States’ understanding of how to implement the Vancouver Principles (VPs) and enhancing the ability of peacekeepers to identify and develop plans to prevent or mitigate risk factors associated with the recruitment and use of child soldiers. Project activities include: (1) conducting research on child protection needs in Liberia South Sudan and the Central African Republic; (2) publishing research reports on the future challenges to UN-led or other supported peace operations concerning the recruitment and use of child soldiers; and (3) conducting workshops and policy discussions regionally in Africa Latin America the Indo-Pacific and at the UN Headquarters in New York.

The expected outcomes of this project include: (1) improved understanding of the challenges related to the recruitment and use of child soldiers; (2) enhanced awareness among the UN Member States and Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) about the future risks in UN-led and other supported peace operations concerning the recruitment and use of child soldiers and child protection mandates; and 3) increased knowledge about the best practices lessons and challenges emerging from the troop and police contributing countries when implementing the VPs. The expected ultimate outcome is to increase the effectiveness of United Nations (UN) peace operations to prevent the recruitment and use of child soldiers.