HI … All … Well Today is 24th of Nov and the days to the Model UN are approaching reall fast . WEll I would like to post a ” position paper ” that I worked on . It is related to the issue , what I as the libyan deligate has to say about it and what possible solution to the problem do I propose . Well you will see when you will read it … 🙂

Ahmed Uzair
Position Paper
Topic 1:

Use of Child Soldier in Armed Conflict

Child soldiering is an issue that is primary linked with armed conflicts. It is accepted that child soldiering is the worst form of child labor and has left many children vulnerable to difficulties. Child soldiering is affront to a community. Children who have a right to play and enjoy there life and deserve being given the best possible education are left hopelessly at the hand of these conflicts for which they are ill trained and inadequately equipped. And consequently they die and even if they survive they are badly psychologically as well as physically traumatized. Speaking of this, reintegration is the part of this issue that needs special consideration although it is said that children once thrown into violence cannot convert their ways to a peaceful life but this is not the case. Careful training and proper environment can provide the basis and the grounds on which these children can become good citizens. Child soldiering is not just associated with boys but also with girls who are relatively even more vulnerable and defenseless. They are beaten, tortured, raped and sexually exploited[i]. Such exploitation caused irreparable psychological and physical harm[1] these girls often become pregnant and are thus left homeless and deprived of everything as society as a whole is unwilling to accept them. It is to be noted that these children are the adults of tomorrow and their presence in such a ruthless conflict is in no way justified. Children whether as fighters, sex slaves or porters become the first and easiest victims of conflict[2]. Some times these children are left stranded in a conflict this is not even theirs (which is usually political) We have repeatedly heard the notion but it deserves further stress that “(we are) digging the graveyards for the future generations instead of securing for them a bright future”[3]

About 250 million children[4] around the world are being subjected to labor exploitation and there are approximately 300,000 [5] child soldiers around the world and nearly half (120,000)[6] are in Africa. Libya has taken up a very strict stance on the matter and is strongly against child soldiering. We have strongly stressed on the fact that extreme poverty is the reason behind such wide spread catastrophe.[7]

Causes of the said problem could be categorized as follows.
poverty
long standing civil war
high percentage of population are children
illegal adoption
abduction
lack of education and public knowledge [8]
proliferation of small arms

A brief solution to these problems is suggested; broadly it is divided into three parts

1. Prevention
2. Demobilization
3. Reintegration[9]
vulnerable

A systematic procedure should be developed to alleviate the root causes of child soldiering

Long standing conflicts should be resolved by international pressure and persuasion
Poverty should be addressed.
better economic infra structure
provide basic health and educations facilities
All parties should be pressurized to prevent the recruitment of children[10]
There must be a mutual understanding of the drastic consequences of the child soldiering
Immediately the parties should demobilize the children of war
Children should be given consideration in all treatise [11]
Demobilization and Social Reintegration of Child Soldiers[12]

1. CATHERINE OTITI (Uganda) at Press Release GA/SHC/3539 SPECIAL EFFORTS ARE NEEDED FOR RECOVERY OF CHILD SOLDIERS, THIRD COMMITTEE TOLD DURING DEBATE ON CHILDREN’S RIGHTS 19991028
2. Third Committee – 1a – Press Release GA/SHC/3539 25th Meeting (AM) 28 October 1999
3. IBRAHIM M. KAMARA (Sierra Leone) at Third Committee – 1a – Press Release GA/SHC/3539 25th Meeting (AM) 28 October 1999
4. Third Committee – 1a – Press Release GA/SHC/3539 25th Meeting (AM) 28 October 1999
5. http://www.hrw.org/campaigns/crp/maputo-declaration.htm
6. http://www.worldbank.org/html/extdr/hnp/hddflash/workp/docs/wp_00056.doc
7. Libyan Delegate at Third Committee – 1a – Press Release GA/SHC/3539 25th Meeting (AM) 28 October 1999
8. http://www.hrw.org/campaigns/crp/maputo-declaration.htm
9. Third Committee – 1a – Press Release GA/SHC/3539 25th Meeting (AM) 28 October 1999
10. By Beth Verhey published in the Africa Region Working Paper Series
11. http://www.hrw.org/campaigns/crp/maputo-declaration.htm
12. http://www.hrw.org/campaigns/crp/maputo-declaration.htm
13. http://www.hrw.org