On 6 September, QUNO welcomed Abel Learwellie, Executive Director of Camp for Peace Liberia, to lead a discussion on peacebuilding during times of transition with UN and member state representatives, and civil society colleagues. The conversation was timely as Liberia is soon to experience many changes, including elections in October of this year and the drawdown of United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL). Mr. Learwellie has been active in the field of peacebuilding in Liberia for over 18 years, and his organization envisions a country where youth are empowered, self-sufficient, employed, and actively contributing to the strengthening and stabilization of Liberia. The meeting provided an opportunity for discussion on the upcoming transitions, challenges that remain for building sustainable peace, and examples of how Camp for Peace Liberia’s local level peacebuilding initiatives have helped support reconciliation in Liberia. During the conversation, participants reflected challenges facing the country, such as the issue of mistrust between the security sector and civilians, a challenge remaining from experiences during the civil war; the lack of educational opportunities, both academic and vocational; and high levels of youth unemployment. Discussion also focused on the positive impacts of work to address these issues by actors such as the UN, […]
In February, Rachel Brett who has been Representative, Human Rights and Refugees (HRR) at QUNO Geneva since 1993 announced her plan to retire. After an international selection process, Laurel Townhead has been appointed to this position from 18 August; we extend a warm welcome to Laurel. Laurel obtained her Master's degree in International Human Rights Law from the University of Essex in 2003. She has experience, among other issues, of work on women in prison, children of prisoners, conscientious objection to military service and support to asylum seekers. She was at QUNO Geneva as HRR Programme Assistant and Project Assistant in 2005-7 and comes to us now from her position as Policy & Campaigns Manager at the UK NGO Women in Prison that she has held since 2008. Laurel has been an attender of Peckham Quaker Meeting in London for several years. Rachel will continue to work with us part-time as Adviser, HRR during a significant transition period. Her outstanding work has improved the lives of many, changed attitudes, built understanding and led to new international agreements. Rachel has worked on the needs of child soldiers, women prisoners, conscientious objectors to military service, stateless people, and children of parents sentenced […]
Rachel Brett delivered the Swarthmore lecture at Britain Yearly Meeting on 26 May. Entitled Snakes and Ladders, it described Quaker work on human rights at the United Nations. This work has brought real change for many, including conscientious objectors and child soldiers. The Swarthmore Lectureship, established in 1907, provides for the publication of a book as well as the public lecture. For information about the book and how to order it please email us at [email protected].
In the 1970s, QUNO worked to raise public awareness about the issue of child soldiers, its causes and consequences, and to develop international standards to prohibit the military recruitment and use in combat of people under 18 years of age, whether in government armed forces or in other armed groups. In the 1980s, QUNO’s child soldiers work focused more heavily on girl soldiers and on why children volunteer as soldiers. QUNO’s activities included working towards the adoption of: In support of these efforts, QUNO carried out research on child soldiers, including for the UN Study on the Impact of Armed Conflict on Children (known as the Machel Study). In 1998 QUNO helped to found the Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers and served on its Steering Committee for many years. With the creation of the Coalition, QUNO laid down its Child Soldiers work. More information about the past work of the Coalition and its successor Child Soldiers International, which was closed by 2019, can be found at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Child_Soldiers_International .See also Rachel Brett & Margaret McCallin: Children the Invisible Soldiers (Stockholm, Rädda Barnen, 1996, 2nd ed. 1998). Rachel Brett & Irma Specht: Young Soldiers: Why They Choose to Fight (ILO/Lynne […]
This submission discusses how children without parental care are most vulnerable to becoming child soldiers, not only in times of armed conflict, but also in peacetime. It particularly mentions children under 18 years of age in State institutions, who may be recruited into Government armed forces. The submission includes recommendations for the Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC).
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