Radhika Coomaraswamy -- Children and Armed Conflict: The International Response

8/3/2019 Radhika Coomaraswamy -- Children and Armed Conflict: The International Response

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joan b. kroc institute For peace & justice

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Radika Coomarawamy

Children and Armed Confict:

The International Response

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Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace & Justice



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P h o t o : A r c h i t e c t u r a l P h o t o g r a p h y ,

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TABLE OF COnTEnTs

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L – Children and Armed Conlict: The International Response 37

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6 7

JOAn B. KROC InsTITuTE FOR PEACE & JusTICE

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JOAn B. KROC DIsTInguIshED LECTuRE sERIEs

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DIsTInguIshED LECTuRERs

al 15, 2003 r edgGl sy, nl cl chhThe Role o the Church in U.S. Foreign Policy

My 8, 2003 Hl cldpd, nl ply rh iThe New Nuclear Danger

o 15, 2003 rhd j. Gldj h cl c sh a

The Role o International Law in Preventing Deadly Conlict

jy 14, 2004 amd Dld k. sgu.s. Dm s

Conlict, Gender and Human Rights: Lessons Learned rom the Field

al 14, 2004 Gl ahy c. Zud s M c (d)

From the Battleield to the Negotiating Table: Preventing Deadly Conlict

nvm 4, 2004 H ahwsy Gl – pl iv hpm Gll Dlg d Dmy

Concept, Context and Process in Peacemaking:The Palestinian-Israeli Experience

nvm 17, 2004 nl Hyzexv D – u.n. Dvlm Fd Wm

Women, War and Peace: Mobilizing or Security and Justice in the 21st Century

Fy 10, 2005 th Hl Llyd axwhy pd, uvy Wg

The Responsibility to Protect: Prescription or a Global Public Domain

Mh 31, 2005 My rFm pd ild d u.n. Hghcmm Hm rgh Human Rights and Ethical Globalization



10 11

Mh 25, 2009 amd j el

Fm u.n. sl evy h sy-Gl D d ud-sy-Gl Hm aArmed Conlict: The Cost to Civilians

o 8, 2009 pl Fmc-d p i Hlh dud n Dy sl evy HDevelopment: Creating Sustainable Justice

nvm 18, 2009 Wllm uy c-d d s Fllw h Hvdng p From the Boardroom to the Border: Negotiating or Sustainable Agreements

Fy 25, 2010 rymd ohpd – oxm am

Aid That Works: A 21st Century Vision or U.S. Foreign Assistance

sm 29, 2010 M MWllmch cmm – nh ild Hmrgh cmm

From Peace Talks to Gender Justice

Dm 9, 2010 jh Glg

Fd – il p rh i Breaking the Cycle o Violent Conlict

Fy 17, 2011 sh j. ru.s. amd--Lg W cm i

Achieving Justice or Victims o Genocide, War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity

My 9, 2011 rdh cmwmy u.n. sl rv chld d amd cl

Children and Armed Conlict: The International Response

o 27, 2005 H exlly kml MFm pd h rl bw Perspectives into the Conlict in the Democratic Republico the Congo and Contemporary Peacebuilding Eorts

jy 27, 2006 amd chh r. Hllu.s. Dm sU.S. Policy in East Asia and the Paciic

Mh 9, 2006 Wllm F. shlzexv D – amy il usaTainted Legacy: 9/11 and the Ruin o Human Rights

sm 7, 2006 sh ed2003 nl p LIran Awakening: Human Rights, Women and Islam

o 18, 2006 M Mm, alm Vv péz, i sgWomen, War and Peace: The Politics o Peacebuilding

al 12, 2007 th Hl Gh evpd – il c GPreventing Mass Atrocities: Making “Never Again”a Reality

sm 20, 2007 kh rhexv D – Hm rgh Wh

The Dynamics o Human Rights and the Environment

Mh 4, 2008 j egldFm ud-sy-Gl Hm

A d emgy rl cd h u.n. War, Peace and Climate Change: A Billion Lives in the Balance

al 17, 2008 j GdllFd – j Gdll i d u.n. Mg pReason or Hope

sm 24, 2008 th Hl L aFm u.n. Hgh cmm Hm rgh

Integrating Security, Development and Human Rights



12 13

BIOgRAPhY OF RADhIKA COOMARAsWAMY

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14 15

RF: What is the difference between your work on the ground in Sri Lanka and

what you face looking at Uganda or other countries that are much less de veloped?

rc: Wh y lly h ml: h hld m

dl gv vl whv h’ l w – hy lld

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wh hm. a mh m vgy-d. evyhg md

mg h y’ vlg h vgy – vyhg h g

m, vyhg h g ld, h mh m l.

RF: Does the dependence on foreign aid tie into that at all?

rc: th d h h h wld vy

wll dvld. th d g g m h

vy l . i h h h

l mmy h d wg a d a.

b h gd, ml vy mh h.

RF: I see the International Criminal Court getting much more active. I read

about it independently investigating violations by leaders, but it seems to be

more adept and able to hit the tribal leaders as opposed to national leaders,

especially tribal leaders who lose. Do you have any comment on that?

rc: [om l-] bh h’ l; h’ h d sd. th ky

l ’ dd w gvm. s i d’ h h’ . F,

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icc. i’ l dv. all h h hy llwg – x

InTERVIEW WITh RADhIKA COOMARAsWAMY

The ollowing is an edited transcript o an interview with Radhika

Coomaraswamy, conducted on May 9, 2011, by Robert Fellmeth,

proessor o public interest law and executive director o the Children’s

Advocacy Institute at the University o San Diego (USD), and Necla Tschirgi,

proessor o practice in human security and peacebuilding at the

Joan B. Kroc School o Peace Studies at USD.

NT: You have done a lot of great human rights work in Sri Lanka. What was it

like moving to the international stage?

rc: i w h l g my h w wh h ud

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n. Wh h h ud n, d h h,

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16 17

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vy d g d. b h d’ m y d’ hv

ml lw h y d’ hv . Y hv g hd

wh y m h l lw, d dv h y

’. s h my l: Wh w g h vd, wh w

mv, w hld d .

RF: In these citizens’ uprisings in the Middle East, are you finding likely abuses

involving children, for example, by the Qaddafi forces and those opposing him?

What do you do about that?

rc: W hv vd m h h l d Qdd’ ml

m x g hld. W hv ldy w h Ly

gvm d l h l hgh h u.n. l vy

Ly, wh w jd g m, d w hv ld h

bh d Fh wh dg mly dv m h h

vl g l. W’v mgd w g mmm

m h l hy h hld, w h h

wll lly mlmd h x w mh.

RF: Apart from remonstration and letters and citing the various conventions, what

can you threaten those who are doing it to lead them to a different path?

rc: o h icc. th h h sy cl h

h mlmd 2000. th h h l dg h

hld d hm gh g hg, d hy hv mvd

wd. thy hv Wg G chld d amd cl

h lly l d d d vl.

i h mg d g mhm l h

ll h m, l hm wh y ld y h

d hld, d h ly gd m

d ’ l .

i’v g my d m wh - wh w g

h sy cl l hy hv dm lgmy d

mg ld. n vy y h al Qd d tl wh

ggg wh . th MiLF [M ilm L F], h v

c d’iv, bd – w’v hd ggm gm

hm l hld hy w g h sy cl

l. thy w lgm. thy d’ w . M d’

w hy g wy m .

RF: Would it be better to use ju-jitsu? My mother always taught me that whenever

you want to do something, seriously consider doing the opposite. Would that

technique work if the United Nations, instead of saying, “I’m mad at you, I’m

cutting you off,” would do the opposite?

rc: th dg h ud n h d w

h wh w d ggm d h wh w

hm d . Wh h u.n. ym y hv h

h . Y hv h Dm pll a, Dm

Md, wh w gg. th y hv h Hm rgh cl

d h h h ud n whh y, “W m,

h m hld l. n y hvg ld wh mmd

h d y.” Y hv h d wh h ud n;

y ly mg y h wll .

Y hv hv h h h y hv hv dd d y

hv gh my. Y ’ hv m md g gvm

y vd . a h m m, h h vl y w m

, m w md hm q.



18 19

o h hg h h hd h qg. Hm gh

gz my whl h l md, d h

h md g h d d y d dl

wh h l m hgh h l .

b i h h lwy h w ggm d g

dd, d h’ h wll lwy h. bg m hm

gh gd, i h g dd d ghg my.

NT: How are you trying to bring children in armed conflict issues in alignment

with some of the other normative developments and institutional de velopments

at the United Nations, including the Responsibility to Protect [R2P], the ICC,

gender violence, etc.? What are the mechanisms through which these different

agendas are supporting each other?

rc: Wh i h g h h ldd h sy cl.

chld d md l wh mh l hm

lw d gv vl g hld wh h l m. Wh

h h y m d ly wg ym r2p

y’ llg m md vl g hld

md l, d h m h d m m h m y

l h h h ud n h dlg wh ly

. s h h ldg l ly wg

ym d y ly l g ll h.

blly wh w hv h md l h w, l mh

h vl; l w ly dl wh m. th

ud n w l g gg d dg

w w m. nw gly w g vl. i

m h ly d w hv d w m,

w l hv vl.

th h u.n. g ly w y ld. th wld x

h ud n d h. i w’ cg d wm g d m

ml m m, h wld y, “Wh w h dg?”

thy g vy gy, v h’ wh dlly d

– hy’ h h wm, hy’ h m w

m ghg h h. b w m d m h l

vl.

a h whl dlgy g vl h h sy

cl d h m d m l vl,

m d m l xl vl d hld md l,

wh g w gg , whl dm g

vl, y wll d h h d wll hv

w gh d h ly , h

vl, hld d md l, xl vl g wm. all

h m h m dlg d d, whh lly

h vl d h l q w.

NT: How do the children and women’s agendas come together, especially on

gender-based violence?

rc: th w mhm h w wh h sy cl m d

h xl vl . W w vy lly gh h’

l xl vl g hld. W yg w gh h

mg x wll m h md xl vl.

NT: How does that work in practice?

rc: i h ld w yg dvl mm mg. Wh w d’

w wm g d d vy h ud n mg

vw h h – h’ zy. s h ld lvl, w hv

hld dv h wm dv wh dd wh

wll g vw, d h hy y g mm l m.

RF: I’m wondering about the problem of religious extremism. What kind

of approach can you take if you have a religion that has a group of fanatics



22 23

rc: i h h w g h h . b h l

l ld w . H mly dd z h y,

v hgh h w g h. ad h gvm l m

hd l, ld vl h wld g mly l.

b g , y w h hg i mm, w gw h ‘60

d ‘70 wh h thd Wld h l mvm w h .

th w h d w h Gdh, whh i lgd

my mly w lly vlvd wh Mhm Gdh, d h md,

l vl d hl, d h h wh

w wh h l-wg wd M d h wh lvd

l l. b w lwy h h w gd hg, d h y

ld’ mvm l y g l y d.

“...even i there’s tyranny and you resist tyranny,

you are also judged by the nature o your resistance.”

b y w hv d h wld mvm h vv my

md m l – dmd h hg. thy d’ wh

l h. i’ d my. Y m d g

m yl d y d’ h l lg.

i h ’ m y h v h’ yy d y yy,

y l dgd y h y . th dgm

hw y . Y y llg vydy gh. Y hv

g hm lw, y g h vl. i h

lg m w v dgd – lly h thd Wld –

mvm. W md h w yy, h wld .

b h tml tg xml h h my hv vld

wh y w dg, h wy y d y dyd h

, y dyd vyhg wh . s i h ’ m h h

dgm hw l wll.

RF: That’s interesting because one of my early learnings that shocked me was when

I learned that during the American Revolution the revolutionaries did a lot of evil

things: They strung up Tories, they lynched people, they did all sorts of things no

one ever talks about in American history books. Not that the other side didn’t too,

but to them the end justified the means. You have Gandhi, you have Martin Luther

King, saying the “how” is going to be peaceful. We’re not going to hurt anybody.

We’re going to rely essentially on the conscience of the people who have power.

What do you do when the people with power have no conscience?

rc: My h l wh hv w ly vl g y.

b hy l h ml dvlm h hm m

x. i h wh gd w w hv dvld v m, d wh

d h Gv cv d h lly ddg

h l q w d hw mmz . i d’ y

y ’ gh, y hw y mmz h q w d

h vl. i’ g mh h wh

g y h lw.

NT: I teach a course here on human security and I’ve noticed in many of the U.N.

documents the words “human security” have disappeared. Is there a reason for

that? Is there still commitment to a human security agenda or has there been some

sort of determination that it is much easier not to create new language?

rc: i h h w mvm hm y, d i h h w

d d w dd wh l – y w h wy hg

dgd h u.n. – d h w d. i h h hg d

hm y vy mh ll h d mm. i h hm

y m h md l w; ’ dlg wh h

d dlg wh h hl m, g

hw dvdl h gd l h h wh d lymg

lvl. th d hg ll vy mh lv wh h u.n. ym,

’ lld hm y.

NT: How are your relations with the Peacebuilding Commission, especially the

Peacebuilding Support Office within the commission?



24 25

rc: W w wh hm , h h cl a

rl. W’v dd h h cl a rl wh vy

l vl h ld h hld h. W’ yg

w wh hm whl h ld h.

NT: Are you doing anything about Libya?

rc: o h m h mg mg hld g

d hld ld, d l yg m h h hm

d M d h g . W’ wg wh ocHa [o

h cd Hm a] d h m h

hld’ hm d dl wh lly M d w

w Ly d h t m. th iDp [lly

dld l] d g hld l mg .

i h l dm hw mh h ud n d d h

wld m hm w. W g d, hl m, w

d l m h m h dd hld. a l

w g d, qly.

RF: What four or five things can the United States do to help what the United

Nations is trying to do with regard to the child issue?

rc: Fly, i h h h ud s hld mm yg d.

i m h h ud s dd hw m

h ud n . o h ud n’ m l

g – d my y d h gd – uniceF [u.n. chld’

Fd]. s . th w hg uniceF vy – ty

L, am. i h u.s. h v lly m. H

h v h ly d w m my , l h w

hld d wh qy l. W d’ g y d gv

my h My ed. W m h h my lly

h h d h vll. H’ yg uniceF’

gm h lgh. s i h lly g hm xmly m.

sdly, hl h md l g. W wd wh h u.s.

cg d mgd g h chld sld aly a, whh

h y wh d hld d h ud

s, d l mly wh d hld

w dd. Mg h h mlmd ly l

mhg w w .

thdly, h Mllm Dvlm Gl, lly h hld

. ag h’ ld md l. o h d

gl hw h h hgh m hld wh

hl, i h w-hd, md l . Ml

mh hgh md l.

NT: What are some of the tools you wish you had in your toolbox that you

currently don’t have?

rc: th l h lx hy l , whh

g h mm vy d vl. W mgd g

h Drc, g w h , h sy

cl ll l.

NT: There are also a lot of mixed results on the sanctions regimes.

rc: Y, h gm. th’ d. th gd m

dvdl. th gm g g. W’ lg

zg , vl , .

th w m h d Yl uvy h d h ll

l d xl vl, d v wh h m y,

g my llw m xl vl h h h. th gm

h h d h ld lly y whh h gg

xl vl. s gd m m.



26 27

sTuDEnT MEETIng

The ollowing is an edited transcript o a meeting held with graduate

students rom the University o San Diego and high school students rom the

WorldLink Program at the Joan B. Kroc Institute or Peace & Justice,

held on May 9, 2011.

Radhika Coomaraswamy: th y ll mg m wh m. My

gd dm. i d d m hg, d h hg

i m m my d, ’ lly m wh y ll dy.

i’m h l v hld d md l h y-

gl h ud n. Wh h m h lly i’m d

dd ml v h d i hv v d

l u.n. h q, lg wh uniceF wll h

Dm pg h ud n d ll h h u.n.

g h w h . My glvz d

dd ml v.

th my d gv vl g hld

– h my. Wh dd gv vl g hld y

h ud n sy cl h llg d mmg hld,

h m hld hld ld, xl vl g hld,

d, hl d hl, d dl hm .

th h x gv vl dw m l hm lw.

o h m my m h vl d

h wld d w wh h sy cl h.

th sy cl h ud n lly lg h l

hld g dh. i h d wg g; h mg d

g ym h gd gd h gv vl;

l h d hld hld ld; d

mlg g h vl.

p my h: wg wh h sy cl d my

vl g hld. i g d h wld d m gvm d

l g h dd vl ll hm hy’

h l h sy cl d ll hm h hy hv m

d l wh h ud n l hld d lg

wh h vl.

i l dv h gh iDp [lly dld l] hld,

hld g d m l z, hld wh g dd

hl d wh g m ml h . o h

w’v g l hld wh aiDs wh lvg h

l wh lly hv hd m.

i y my w d i m y h h m m my w

h ld v, wh w g d y g h u.n. ym d h

hld’ d h l d wh w hv y

m wh hld d gh m hm wh h lm .

L m h i d’ y, d l m hv m q m y.

Q: I’ve been researching the trafficking of girls into the European Union and

child soldiers in Liberia. The new U.N. DDR [Disarmament, Demobilization

and Reintegration] standards propose that DDR strategies should coordinate

with transitional justice mechanisms. To what extent should that apply to

children in terms of rehabilitative redress, and how would such a scheme be

implemented?

a: th h g q h whl , whh , hld hld

ld d d , wh hld d? a y w, h m

hm h ud s my g l wh y

gvm h Gám h w 15-y-ld y, om khd,

wh w cd z d w d agh. i d

ld wh h u.s. gvm h h hy l hm cd



28 29

vl g d d. elly h l g wh lly

h hld, l h MiLF m x i h, h

h wll llw h dg d vd hm wh m

d v gv h h hld. b l g vy. sm

hm vy l d m q .

Q: Regarding the nexus between crime and conflict, one of the issues we

discussed this semester was the Mexican case and the role of gangs. How do you

treat children caught in the crime-conflict nexus?

a: L m y h h ud n, md l lwy,

l vyhg l mm. i y ll h Mx

dg w “md l,” mmdly ll h dg l g gh

d h Gv cv. th’ h l hg y gvm h

ud n w d, gv hm h ddd . th hy’v

y ml d vy hd my llg

h x.

b h’ d h l h gd – my ld , my

uniceF h gd, hld , unDp – hy y, “W

hv dl wh h hg – hy dl. Wh h hld

h dl wh h md l.” thy d

h m wy; h gz l mly gz. rgg

hm hy hv h m m, h m lm h hld wh

ld hv. s h hm, h mgl lgl d.

th hld g h m wy.

b h h ud n h dlg wh h. th

l v vl g hld, wh’ d dl

wh vl m. sh dl wh m l hm

gg vl. ad h’ h u.n. o Dg d cm. Hlly

w ll g gh d g m d ly h w

w wh h h dl wh h lm. W hv l x

wh h hld h d x.

hm hl gm, h h hld d mly

l. i h d h w d d d, h w l g

d w h’ gg cd.

b h h wld, , h l dd h

whl vy d. th il cml c md vy

l h wll y d 18 w m m

g hmy. ad h s L [sl c s L]

l md vy l h hgh l d hy wll y

hld d 18 w m m g hmy.

Wh w mgg h l h m

h hld hd mmd l m, dg hm hm

w. th h m d mhm wh hy

md lz h gvy h m d h hm. th

mgg hv h d l v

wh hy d m h l g whm

hy’v mmd m d g hgh wldgg wh

hy hd d wg, h h v l l. i h h DDr

wll hlly ld h d , h hy

dmlzd hv g hgh m v h d

l .

Q: Many of our students are in mediation and negotiation cla sses and have done

workshops. What are some of the negotiat ion techniques you use?

a: Wll, i’m lld h. b h, lly wh h l

g, hy’ g lgmy d h w hm – v hgh

gvm mgh l – wh md m hw

hm hw hy ld d lgm , h hy

l wy hy wll g h h l mmy.

i’ lly -d- d h: h h sy cl

d h g h w wll vd h hld wh gm



30 31

ah l h y d’ h hld ld l. i y g

mmy d hv gm hld ld, h h hld

h mm g vy hy dd’ gh ydy

d dy’ g h d. s h hd l h y

m y d gm ll h hld h mmy whh

h hld ld .

th m h p pl. Wh gd yhl lg,

h l mmd h p pl. W d wh

h mly, ly h hld l. i h h h’ mg , 10

20 hld wh hv lld d mmd vy wy

wh hv vm xl vl wll q yh

. th h 80 wll ly v wh mml yhl

. th’ wh h h hwg m s L l. i

h , vdg h v mmy vm d ll

yhl h hld wll w.

Q: Being a woman from the sub-continent, does your personal background

serve as a n asset or a lia bility, or does it not have any impact on your work?

a: i h g wm m h h h vd h

. a l wh y’ dg hg y g, d m m h

h wm m h h dg h. thy d’ l wm

m m h h dg h. i’v hd m y , h wh

h m d cg y, “Y wh l mg d

llg m wh d,” d i y, “i’m wh .” H g

mm h i w m h h. th h d g mm.

b m x h g g m h h, h

h hy y m h y w m d gd.

th lm hgh wh y g agh. Wh i w lly

dld m d m wh h hld, h dl ml, ll hm

ah d dg y. th l wh w dg h

sml , yg . i m hm nvm

wh i w pld, vy yg d wh g d y

wh hv w m h d lv m n. thy d h

d d h w. th l w mll d h

d g hd y hm v h. th l h m

d .

Q: You mentioned DDR and truth and reconciliation commissions. In post-

conflict societies where there are child soldiers or children affected by the

conflict, does the United Nations have a definitive policy on what kind of

rehabilitation programs there should be for trauma therapy, or do you leave

that to the country to decide?

a: th l l h. th r DDr g. th

l h d l w h y h ud n.

sm h m d h wld g gh d m

wh h p pl, whh hw hld hld gd

y hy w hld ld lly hld d

wh md g. th l: , h hld hld v

lzd. i yhg, wh w d h y g hm

h ml , h mmd ml, lv – d h

h hld wh h lv. W y wy m g hm

hg. W d h hg d thd Wld

hd d d d hl. th’ l.

th d l h hld h ml y

d’ lv hm h. W hv w wh hm v d

y w, gg glly v hm, mg h h ml

d hm l. o hld hv ld ’ d l

x, d h l hv d dlg wh m wh

w m m.



32 33

d y ll h hg h d d, hy wh h

hm w. th’ h l i ly wh hm. blly h dy--dy

gm h gd wh gd h cv h rgh h

chld lly uniceF’ ly. My hl hm dv

d gh vl g hld d d h hd l h ,

d h x gv vl.

Q: One of our students gave a very interesting presentation a couple of weeks

ago on children born in Iraq after the American invasion and occupation, and

the very devastating health impacts of the American intervention. Are you

covering those issues?

a: i w iq h y g. a h m, [Mqd l-] sd w g

h G Z d h w l l h i ld’ g

my l i wd. iq hd h hgh hyl qly--l

dx hld. ev hgh llly hg w l, hld

m hl d hg l h hy hd vy hgh d. Wh i

w ly 55 w gg hl, md 95

h w. th w l h d h hd lly ll

h w, h w h wh uniceF.

th lm wh i w h w uniceF ld’

w vy h m. nw uniceF h g iq d h

dvd m gm my h h hv w m .

b dg h mmd mh h w, h d w vy lw

hld ll h: ml, d – ll h l d

hd dd dmlly.

Q: Our students here are look ing to work for the government in their countr ies,

the United Nations or NGOs. What qualities and skill s do you look for in people

you work with in the field?

a: F, hg lz h m d m y hv g h

ld y lly w mv h ud n. M d m

dd l wh , ddly d d wd

m. thy d, “i’ gd hg y’ dg h h hld,

wh dl? W’ mlyd.” ad h g ll hl,

d hy d, “Wh y m?” i i w h m p id

wld hv lld l l. Lly i’m m s L. thy lxd

d d, “ah, y, m,” d i w gv . s l h m m

ly h i m m s L gl w.

ev hgh w h h w wll y dv m y

d h ud n d h w wll d w l vl

v, ll h . Wh y g z d y , y,

p wg agh, mmdly h l wll . th

d ly .

“The reason my role was created is that UNICEF and others

ound that they couldn’t say unpleasant things to states or rebel

groups without compromising their humanitarian work.”

Q: What about other child ren’s rights besides the issue of child soldiers?

a: i v g wh my uniceF x m, hy y, “Wh

y dg ll h h gh?” i y, “Wll, h’ wh h h .”

uniceF’ ly lly mlm h cv h rgh

h chld – m h’ d, m h’ y, .

th my l w d h uniceF d h d h hy

ld’ y l hg l g wh mmg

h hm w. sy, xml, ugd g hld ld

d uniceF dg dvlm gm wh ugd. th hy g d

y, “Y dg h, d y dg h,” d ugd mmdly

y, “G hm.” uniceF wd mdy wh m m nw Y



34 35

h’ m h l. th h wld , gg y h

u.n. g, g l h ld, g h d ld

x. th ’ mh m lly h h wll g .

“I you eel that what you do will have a result and can change

things in a small way instead o waiting or the revolution,

that’s a quality that is very essential.”

Wh w l ddg l l d l

– ’ g y – dlm. i’ qly h y ’

d. i’ h y’ gg my hl hg,

y hv hv h l h w h y m hg

d h lg. i y’ gg w h hm wg

h ud n, h dlm vy y, i d. th wh d’ hv

l h wy g d d gv . b y l h wh y

d wll hv l d hg hg mll wy d wg

h vl, h’ qly h vy l.

WELCOME AnD InTRODuCTIOn

Dee Aker

Deputy Director


Gd vg. Wlm. My m D a d i’m h dy d

h h i p & j. th vy l vg

h ipj, md g h vy v w h h

ipj h g . F, w’v wg nl h

10 y, wh 2006 h M l gd mhv

gm, vg h wy hm gvm

d dd h vlly hld m. thd nl

my ld d h . M l, ldg h d

h g 18, w d m h y v

y h vl.

i jy 2010, h ghly 3,000 dd hld ld wh vd

h M pl’ L amy w dhgd d ld m h

m. a l h ldg h w gg

h yh h mm wh g d , d h’

gg. rdh cmwmy, wh h o chld d amd



36 37

cf, lg wh h u.n. M nl, uniceF d h gvm

nl, hv ll lyd v l h .

ch Gh [ipj m gm ] d i d m nl l

Fdy, d whl h ll dl m ly h

y, h h nl amy d h M lly h

hy mmd g y d h g 18. th ipj

wg wh vl yh g d mgg ld nl m

h h yh ddd h y mv wd

w dmy.

th ipj xdg w l wh Wm pM h

phl. th, h o chld d amd cf h vy

v. sy cmwmy h d gm wh h

l g, h MiLF [M ilm L F], dd h

hld . th ipj lv g x w h phl, wh

dd wg wh h m Wm pM h

- mg, h WldL Md lm “Md’ Yh

Wg p”1 – lg x g yh ld m

h M, ch d dg mm – wll hd, h

h wh WldL mmy Mx d h ud s.

i my l v pgm o kl alvz, wh mg h

ipj’ WldL yh gm d d h Md lm yh,

d gh’ .

1 th lm vwd l h://m.dg.d/sm/smply.x?id=5606

ek47G&pn=1

Karla Alvarez

WorldLink Program Officer


i my h d rdh cmwmy, ud n d-

y-gl, l v hld d md f,

gh’ j b. k Dghd L s . M. cmwmy

h xv m x ddg hm gh, l

d gd qly. sh l dv d h dd y h

llg “ll hl.” s 2006, M. cmwmy h hd

h hllgg g hld d yg l h md

vl d .

a ud n Wld Yh r ly d h, vwhlmgly,

yg l d h wld l h h v d m d h hy

m d. Whl hy ly gd y lym,

M. cmwmy m wh d l. i , h ly w

-d h whl h my g h h m gvml

l d nGo v h m wh, h v g h

d v h vm.

th ipj’ WldL pgm l gz h m h v

h yh. ov h 14 y, WldL h ldd m h



38

9,000 hgh hl d m s Dg d b cl. thy hw

h yg l dly h d mmd

ddg l – ldg m h vy h M.

cmwmy wll gh. W h m m WldL

d y l, wh h hw m w hv h

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l h w w.

i h, h 10h vy y h ipj, my l gh

h h WldL pgm ly vd g $30,000 d.

th g wll l WldL h lw-m d Mx yh

d l x ll d h

lgh yh h .

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d h mll m d – m h w d d lv ddly,

l l. chld h m vll g dg d

f. a lg lg, d h lv, hy l

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amg vl v, M. cmwmy ldg gll mg

h m hld d h g 18 y md g. H

wg wd g vl g hld 22 d

f z, d M. cmwmy h md l v my

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m md f.

ad w, i v h d, ly d mmy mm ghd

h m wlmg rdh cmwmy, ud n d-

y-gl, l v hld d md f.

Children and Armed Conlict:The International Response

Radhika Coomaraswamy



40 41

Wh i w ugd ly i m M, yg m wh hd ggld

h uniceF [ud n chld’ Fd] m y wh

h Ld’ r amy (Lra). Wh h w 13, h d h d

w lyg wh h Lra d h vllg. M d h d w

dd d md y h d h Lra lg h hd

h Lra m. o h wy h d ld d h l.

th Lra mmd h h d h hd. thy md h wy h

m wh h w md gh. H whd h wh d

wy w xd. H w gv dg, h h l ml d

h md gh – lly g h w w vllg d llg

l h w wll. Flly h hd hd gh. H d m h

m d md h wy nGo [gvml gz] dd

y uniceF. th nGo w yg h mly d h w dgg

lg d g vdd wh g vl ll.

o ll h hm vl h wld dy, h hm

hld d md f h gh h mg h sy

cl h ud n. s 2000 h h ym

ggm wh h gd, mh h m , wh i wld m,

xm. Wh i d dy d h gd

h ggm, h mv d h h ggm

d lly f h ml h ggm hm

gh d hld d md f.

i 1996, Gç Mhl d h -dh x dy hld d

md f h Gl amly. rdg h l w

hld f, h mly hd d h x vd

gd wh w y h l lvl hld

m f. Gç Mhl, h , hghlghd h h

my w w hgg; h h l w vl d

m w lg l; h wm d hld w h

l d dly gd. Whl h sy cl l y w

d dwg l w m, dy my

h vl.

Gç Mhl w gl h qd g l

. th ldd h hld ld, h lm g

d iDp hld, xl d gd-d vl d h

ldm hld. sh l dw h l lm

d y glzd , h l m w hlh d

d h d yhlgl vy d l g

ll hld d y w. th mly dd h y g h

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f, h d-y-gl lvl, mlz u.n. ym-wd

hld m w.

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v hld d md f.2 ol o w ugd’

md wh ugd w mm h sy cl, d h w

h l sy cl ggm h . H w dmd

m h sy cl gz h hld d md f

d y d h l’ vw, d h h ll lh

l h h l hd dl hd h l l dvg h

gd, wh h ll ml h l hd .

sy cl ggm wh h hld d md f

g 1999 wh h l, rl 1261, qd h y-

gl vd hld d md f h l,

mg h g gh y o h hld d md f

w d y . th gl h m h

gg sy cl h . th , llwg h

mw h Gç Mhl , ld h d

h l dy d gh dvlm h ld. i w gl

d hm, mh l h h Hm rgh cl. Hwv,

v m h wld hg m mg d g

dm g wh y .

th m d md y h m l v w

gd h sy cl gv vl g

2 o h ipj al 11, 2006. th h l d

www.dg.d/d/dm//olmmyw.d



42 43

hld d d d l . th w

vly h l, wh m hm d lly

gl. i w l h gmm vw wld mld h

l w mhm, h gv vl lm

h d y wld m dl. a

vwg l hm lw, h m l v

dd x gv vl h g hld dg w m: h

llg d mmg hld, xl vl g hld, m

d hld, d, hl d hl d dl

hm . th w mhv – xml, hy

dd dl wh d dlm – hy w h m l

m mg. th x gv vl hv w m h

h sy cl .

“The irst important decision made by the ormer special

representative was to guide the Security Council process

to ocus on grave violations against children and to ocus

on speciic incidents and actual perpetrators. This was

revolutionary in the council, where most thematic debates

usually spoke in generalities.”

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md f, h vl d ml y wh

y . Wh gd y , hy

dvdd w: h h gd h sy cl

d h gd h l. i ll h 20 y

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, h m h h g d-

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s h y-gl’ , h wg h

wh y m l q d g. th

m h m m h u.n. y m l. th

m, lg wh y h lv m h hdq

lvl, lld d gh y my . th h hd

wh hdq-lvl md ll h lv g

– uniceF, unHcr, Dpko, iLo, unDp, Dpa, uniFeM, oLa3 – h m

ddl y. a h , h h lzd

d h hw h mm h hy hv

y hd h llg g f

g wh h . i hy hllg m, w q

h y m vy h d. o h ml, h

gv h exv o h sy-Gl, wh my

m hg h lly m .

i h d w gly y h h ml h l

h y-gl h sy cl hld d md f

u.n. ym-wd . th m l

-ldg l u.n. hw hld.

i m h h u.n. ym h d h

vd y u.n. . W ly -u.n. ml h y m

m l h hy m, vy m. i

h w l wll m m hld

wh d dl d d d mhdlgy, d h

u.n. y m wll d y h m.

o h lgl mg h ml h w,

What constituted armed confict? n y w sy cl

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ll m hy md f ggg

3 unHcr h u.n. Hgh cmm rg; Dpko h Dm pg

o; iLo h il L ogz; unDp h u.n. Dvlm pgmm;

Dpa h Dm pll a; uniFeM h u.n. Dvlm Fd Wm (w

un Wm); oLa h o Lgl a.



44 45

l . th h dm w

dvd m hm gl wh gm mh hld,

wh h hm d hw hy d. th h

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sy cl rl 1882, w xm wh w w ll “

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m h d h .

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wh hy ld.

th “l hm” d h m 23 , d -

m agh s L. i 2009 h w v 50

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h l l v y. rl 1379 2001 l dd

hw ld g h l: thy hld m-d

l wh h ud n l d g h hld



46 47

d m d d m h m d hld.

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, g m d ll vy h h hld.

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48 49

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gvm wg g whh h wh h y . i



50 51

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mmd h wg g agh. th l hv

l m y h hm h wg g ddd -

. i l h vy mmd h gvm

agh d h d mm isaF [il sy

a F] d h l . ag hy l h x

gv vl h hd md h agh . Hwv,

h d h h x hllg v llw-

ll h l d mmd h l.

th sy cl Wg G l l hd

“l” l ld . th y v

y h sy cl Wg G. rly h wg g w

nl d h y hy h g g agh. igly,

h r d ch wll h v.

pg vg 12 y d mg wh h m m

l d mmd h ld m wld

h h h wg g. o h ly mmd F, Mx

d Gmy v h h d dd.

sy cl rl 1612 l wl l h

g vl. th rl 1612, h ghg

h wy h gvm my md w h y llg g

ll f gl vl (hgh wh dgg h

), d l m h m vy l dg

h vl hgh vdg v d hld.

nGo d uniceF hv l d h mg d g

hld lly d gmm h hld md

m vll wh y . thgh h mg d g

h h d l l w d

m m , w gzd h h

l mmy m l vd h l hld

d h hy gv lzd gmm d lly

gd h mm. th l hd

hld gmm m dl f .

th h y-gl y d

h vv sy cl rl 1612: h sy

cl Wg G chld d amd cf. i h w y

w hd y F; h w hd y Mx d dy ll

g hd y Mx. th w hv l l mhm

h sy cl ly dvd hld d md f. i m

mhly d xm h h y-gl, ml

gll hzl , d l d l w h

l v h y-gl hld d md f

my y v. th ym ggm wh q mg h

dd h ggm d h wldg h l

lg hld d md f.

Wh h y d h wg g, h l

gvm v gv y d h .

a h , h wg g dl l d

mmd, d h mmd h y-gl,

whh h d x mg. s , h wg

g h m ll h y- ld



52 53

m h m dd ly ll , h,

h m m h l, h h wh

mmg gv vl g hld my h vg d

gd m, whh ld m mg, z d vl

. th m h h w gh m

l – lly ll v c d ’iv. i h x,

wh h l ym d, h h my ll d

. nvhl, m 1612. th ly wh

h u.n. ym h l v h sy cl.

i h h h mlx x w lly g d why

m h w mv hd wh h .

i ag 2009, h l d rl 1882 h g

my dd, lly wh h ldy xg

mm. th m wd, d h

mm dl h Dm rl cg, i

ddd h mm, hv md g dvdl

h m d hld. Hwv, h

mhm hld d md f d , d my hld

l h w hld y d f h l mv

h d, lly wh gd vl.

th mm lg d hm w h

H Ld ly d h e c h kd . 4

c m w d, h h h h g

whm md, hy dvdl, hld gv h

y hd, h vd hld mmd hm

d h hld m m dl vw. th m

gd, d my ddg h h l g m

y dm h d llld. nvhl,

h w h sy cl m h ly v w

wh h ym dl wh d , w hld h

w, d hld ghd h hm gh l

mddd. th il cml c d x d

4 Y adllh kd d al b il Fd v. cl h e u d

cmm h e cmm

d d h h lm wh gd whh

m d vw.

rfg h v y rl 1612 w dd, my

gz d lm. th q h m md ,

hld w hv gh h h sy cl? th l

dl wh md f, d h hld h md h f.

F h l h l h h md dl wh h .

th l l h h w h h wh h d

y – h wh mm hd vl g hld ly ll

wh h gy. by gzg h l w h hld

d h h d y, h l h hw h wllg

gz m mhv vw md. i m, h

l gzd h m h wm d h

vl. i md w, wh h vl m m

ly wldgd, h hl h dly ddg

h dym md w.

“Just because there are double standards because o politics, we

cannot operate in a world without any standards.”

ad y, h sy cl lly ll dy. Wh

g h ll , h bd xml, w hv

l mv h gd vly. Wh h d ll

, m dl. th h md my hg h h u.n.

ym h dl dd, h m m d h

h. F ll wh w hm gh wh h u.n. ym, w

gz h dl dd – ly h lwy , wh w

hm gh w hld d wh v. Wh

m dl ll , w hld dv

h ym gz h hm gh d hld



54 55

d v m d. j h dl dd

l, w wld wh y dd.

th mhg dg h m h w

ll h hld ll h m, w hld m h

hld wh w . sly h vld h.

th h h m md h h dd

v h sy cl d h Hm rgh cl. th

h, d l, h hld d md f

d y – vlv md f – d w l hd

h h l wld mv wd gd m, ly h

sy cl d h Hm rgh cl. a l, h

h mwh d. Fm h gg mm md l

h h hld lv d llv , d hy ld

hgh vl ggg dlg wh gv vl. F h

h h wg d h vw vlv

wh h mm d. th h dvg d

ddvg, lly l h dlg wh

d h h gd. th vy hlhy d

h lvl h wh h y d mg gvm m. th

ddvg h w d my h wh mm ddg

d h h , d h

vyg m h hgh lvl y.

th hd m h y g h l h

y-gl’ . i h l v

l . a l h g dl l wh

h u.n. ym h lzd. th exv o h

sy-Gl z vy dl, h y-gl m

d hd h d lld. s mh h d m d hm,

hy w lly wh h ll m dl

d vd. th u.n. ym-wd g l h dvg d

ddvg. o h hd vy gy d dm h y

d v, d h my ld m d l

wh h ym. sdly, h ld [], lly uniceF d h

wg hld , l h ld d m

dqly fd hy h l. t g h gh

w hv l h m d mg m h ld wh

h d d dm wg hdq wh hv

d m m mm . i y

w m hv g h ym wg q wll, d h y’

w dd wh mmm glh d m.

th h sy cl h h d

wh h u.n. ym – h h y d hdq

lvl h w g dl hld d y md

f. thy gh d h m d hy d

wh l h w d d ml. i h l d

mmd g x h hl lvl m mm wh,

d h ll d, d y vy hd mv wd h

gd. a h gvm lvl, h hgh vly h , ly

sy cl , h ld my g

mlmg mhy h wll d my h .

o m h dvlm d

hm wh l h mg d hmg x my

h h w. uniceF whh w lly

wh h gvm wh gd gm d h h

h mg x. My h g d h dl.

igly w yg hld y gm y g h ll

h nw Y, h ll m vd y h ud

n h y m ll hv m l ly.

th h m mm h h mg d g

mhm llg g dl m d d h

hld. th m mgm ym x h h ld

d hdq. im y h v hld

d y mhm h my h -f



56 57

. th m wll ly hd, hwv, wh h ll wldg

d h wh hv gv h m.

th sy cl xm hld d md f h

g . a l llg hm gh h

wg g d mg d g mhm; w wh l

hm, mg ; d dg gd m g

dvdl vl g hld. th xm d y h

xm h ld h y d whh m h l ld

ld ld h h xl vl f d h

vl. th x w y my lly dg

ggm h l h , gzg h h

hld hv hw h wy.

“As Graça Machel did write in her report, children are a

uniying actor and they, more than any other group, remind us

o our common ethical concerns.”

a Gç Mhl dd w h , hld yg d

hy, m h y h g, md mm hl .

i hv dd y h h sy cl m

h hllg. L ll ym, h m, m ll

ld h h xdy d vv dvlm. rly

w gh h sy cl yg gl wh w hld ld

– d, d ly lld y h Ld’ r amy. sh l

h l d w gd d g am vy.

a h mvg v, h vd d m vy

md h m lg wh h y-gl. th l

mm, wh mm hmy m l. thy l

mm h hw h ly h ud n. W h h

hld wll hw h wy.



58 59

yg m dd Gám. W w yg, h w’ ld,

h l hv hm g h hl d v .

W’v hd h d d h hv d . b

wh gd h md h l, h u.s. h vy

g .

DA: Will the new April 2011 anti-trafficking E.U. directive be helpful? How

many member states support your work? Is there a ny support from the Palermo

Protocol for your activities?

rc: My w l wh g w wy. F h hld – gl

wll y – d m md l

h h vll h hld m ly d. i

h h m lv my w. b lly h l

m g, w d’ g h ggd. th d mly y h

o Dg d cm d l y h l v vl

g hld. b h g hld d m md

l h h vd mh . o

h my h y y d h l w h

g d hld d md l, d hw w

w gh h .

DA: What possible actions are taken against groups who are not responding to

the sanctions or naming and shaming?

rc: th’ vy m q h q w g

h d h. i h w hv dvg. th v mdl

w h wh y h ym, h l ym. i d’

w h wh d y h ym. Wh w w wh h

tl d h al sh, wh w y d d m . W

y d hw w g hld h ym y g lg

h. F xml, agh w hv mgd g h ulema,

h hgh lg dy h, l mh w h wh

QuEsTIOns AnD AnsWERs

The audience submitted questions that were read by Deputy Director Dee Aker.

DA: Olara Otunnu stood here, toward the end of his time as the first in your

position. What’s different now than it mig ht have been for him?

rc: i m l h ll my d. blly, h ld hv

ddd h h l h l v w dv.

b h ddd h h ud n d mv yd yg

hg d dvg hg. H lvd h ud n hld d

mhg my. i h h w h gh ol o,

h h mvd g my vl g hld. ad h h

d h ym – whh i hd, whh lly q q d

h d q l xm hm gh l – mv g

my hgh h h sy cl. H ld hv ddd

gmm , h h wld g dg d d

hl. b d h ddd h w gg gh my, d h h

g h. ad i’m m lv h wll.

DA: The United States has not signed the Convention on the Rights of the

Child. Has there been any change in the last 10 years in the response of the

United States?

rc: th ud s h gd h ol pl hld ld,

v hgh h’ gd h v. i d’ w y g

ol pl v y hv’ gd, ywy. i m y,

hy hv vy v md, d h dm

i m y. th bh dm w vy v, vy v; h

om dm vy v, vy v.

W hv hd mm . F xml, h i

d wh h gvm w h om kd, h 15-y-ld



60 61

DA: Are there other countries on the list who are not responding?

rc: th m h dd dlly h lg .

nw i h w hv ly : Mym, whh h gg;

chd – i g ml dy h hy dy g l

j; h h sd d Dm rl cg.

DA: What’s the legal age for a child according to your office?

rc: W hv h lgl g h hld 18. th g q.

th vl hm gh mw h g hld h d

18. b h ml lw mw – h icc – h hld dd

15 d d. th h w mw, d 18.

o h d y ll h g lwy , w’ g 18

whl h ml lw 15. th h d m ,

ml hm 15 d d. b w d ll

hld d 18 h l h g h l. s h

h dy.

hld d w h wh xlly xl hld hgh

bacha bazi , dg y. i agh h h h z,

mmd d h hvg h dg y whm hy xlly

xl. th lg l w h h .

W y w wh h mmy ld d m h l

g d h d vy, y d hld

w mm h w hv , m h

l h’ ly hld g d d wy hdg

hld. th ll h vv h w g . [i h

] w hv g h sy cl d lly

g v d mhm, hv h mmy

g d l d wh gg . th’ wh w d

sml d agh.

a i w yg l, a d a mly h ud n

vy wlm; h’ v vw h ud n. W g

ywh. F xml, i g h phl, h gvm gv

m m g Md, w’ c d’iv w g

m h l m h gvm m, wh u.n. , d

w’ gv vywh. evydy m d l .

b h lm agh d sml h w’ l h

my. W h lm. Gg d h m

vy dl. s h h hllg w’ hvg wh h g,

lly agh d sml, wh h l ym,

wh d’ w hv .

b i m y, gly, whl al sh d al Qd hl,

h tl lw h d ld. W hd wh hy dd g wh

hv vy h dy l v. th w gd

hgh m h ll. thy lly hd h – h w vy

h dy. icrc [il cmm h rd c] l h m

l wh hm, my wh m w g hm wll.



62 63

DA: Can you give us some more information or elaborate on how the United

Nations has played a role in controlling the LRA in Uganda?

rc: th Lra h h h ud n lly lly

dvdd y. igly, y hv wg h ud n h

d m . t hm, h m m : lg,

gg, mg m. ad h y hv h h ud

n h vy hm gh d -d, l h o h

Hgh cmm Hm rgh, oLa, . thy’ ly dg.

el, mh w, w hd h h w yg, Make peace

with the LRA, d h h yg, This man must be in jail; there’s

no making peace with this man. W hd vy wh w g

hm, d h h h l mmy dlg wh

dd ky h mddl h , whh h u.n.

g ml ly. ad h ky, h

w dd, d g. nw vydy d wh hm. th

ugd my h d hm d hd m ml y , d w

h g vy ld mll d g wg hgh h

. thy h ly hy g m cg h sd

cl a rl. th’ m dv

y h .

th ud n h ddd ’ gg hv gl h

h Lra. all h u.n. gg hv gl l; h a

u l gg hv gl l. n l g hm h

mm. th wll gl mly gy d gl

gy wh hg.

DA: Can you provide an update on the efforts to rehabilitate the 3,000 former

Maoist child soldiers back into society in Nepal? Have these efforts been successful?

rc: ply l. Wh w hg h l w mh h h

M mmd hv md wh m h m

V l hv gd h h y d hldhd.

i m h wld hld vy v 14, 15, hy why

w dg h l wy. adg uniceF d h,

h dh lly md l 18 l. Y d h hld

ld lly l. thy g gh h l

hy hv h yhg lly gg h hm – hy

h ’ gm. i’ l xl hld d hm

m d h g 18.

“One has to realize that the real lie orce o all our mandates

really comes rom civil society in the country areas. They’re the

ones that irst direct us to what is taking place.”

DA: Can you speak to the nature of civil society consultations done with your

office, and the nature of civil society analysis and advocacy? What role does it play?

rc: i hv vl y dvy l. W m vy w mh.

o sv h chld, oxm, care, Hm rgh Wh, Wld V,

W chld, il c G, . o w, lly

h h, h’ d h h l d m m vl

y. Why w Gç Mhl d? b nGo h ld w

yg h h l hg w hg hld. o h lz

h h l l ll md lly m m vl y

h y . thy’ h h d wh g l.

thy lly m v. thy’ m

mg. ad hy’ l m , h h ld d

hdq. thy lg. i h sy cl , hy d hl

h lyg. W ’ lly ly mm ; w’ u.n. l. W

m , ., ’ lly vl y hld’ gh g

ll v h wld h ld sy cl mm 1612 d ll

h h. s hy’ vy v.



64 65

18] mg. e, x b, h m l ll l wh

h gh 18. th nhld w h l hld, w hy hv

gh-18 ly. b h u.s., u.k. d ll h bh l hv 17

h g m. th g llm, h vydy

mm h mh y.

DA: How large a staf f do you have to conduct the important work you do? What

is their background and training?

rc: i hv ly 15 l, i l hv uniceF d h hld

Dpko. s hgh w d l h llg h , i

w vy lly wh h uniceF h dl wh md l,

whh h mgy uniceF. i w vy lly wh hm

wll h g ’ hld . thy my ld

. s my nw Y 15. th gd hm gh

d hld mly. th h w h w l , d

w l l ld x lly h .

DA: Can the Security Council name and shame or include on a list a group

whose conflict has not officially been recognized – for example, the recruitment

of children in Mexico by the drug cartels?

rc: th’ g q. a l h w h ud n

dd y lw, lly h sy cl h

d y d m x md l. th

why v ll mhg md l

h mmdly gg h Gv cv d

h l. s y wld h gv h dg l h

h Gv cv. th why l vy l

“md l” wh gd h dg w Mx.

b h hm, uniceF d h hld l h

gd wll y, “L, h w lly hv dl wh dy dy

dl hld md l. th wy hld d,

d gg hm h yh ll wg. nw h g:

Hw d w d h? thy d g m d h hy

d h yh wg h ll . sly, w ’

y hy ’, ’ vl. s h h gg whh

w hy .

th h h m h gl wh hv g – m hm hv

mmd – d w g lly vv Hd

y d h m d w . thy’ hy ll

g dl. thy hv dd y yg hy d’ w g

hm, hy w g h m. s hy hvg m

lm wh hm. W yg hw w dl wh h .

DA: Do you have any information on Burundi?

rc: i w h h m l wg ly, l

x mh g w hd dld ll h . W g ll l

h hld hgh uniceF. sh a m x hld h

g, h sh a w h hd h

bd. thy hv ld. o h hg h i w d h

y d h whh hld w ld d

hw h g h l: s L, L, bd. th

l bd gg w, w whg h

lly w hld g d.

DA: Has the council investigated the recruitment of children in the United

States’ military?

rc: th u.s. d b gv ll h h

m g 17, y w. b l h ol pl,

md l h y hld w 16 d 18 y d

hm m. s h ud s d y h. i d

y d 18 d m. b y d w 16 d

18. o , h nGo hg gh 18, [Z ud



66 67

m wv, d h m m hy l gv g d d

m. thy hv ly ll h l. s w wd m

h h dd’ dl wh h l , dd

h ly h gd h h gl l g m .

DA: Many of us remember that you were the special rapporteur on violence

against women. Was this change to your current position a difficult one?

rc: o h wm’ d hld’ vy lly ld. i d

mm wh k a lld m d d h wd gv m h

. i d, “i’m l wm.” ad h d, “n, , w w

hm gh d wm’ gh h .” b i m y,

i dd’ d dl my m g w hm gh.

th mml d h l d w h

hld’ d wm’ gd, h h wh i w l

vl g wm i l mh h gy

d mwm wm, d l g hm [ vm]. F

m, dl wh wm vm vl lly mw h

m l. Wh hld h’ d h hy ,

h hy x hmlv, w hv h ’

gdd mw mh m v vm h wm.

s h d h .

o i v l h wm’ mvm. Whv h’ wm’

v nw Y i v h. i’ll ly y h.

DA: Anne Frank in her diary said that she still believed in the basic goodness

of all people. With all the atrocities you see on a regular basis, do you agree or

disagree with Miss Frank’s assessment?

rc: i lv h l lly gd. i lly d; my w ll

dl. i d lv h h l , h l vl

h wy h gg (my hm m my mly

l, ’ l ml y ), h m d yhlgl

hld vy mh l md l.” th hm

w hw w w h gh, h lwy vy

l h y h .

th h h ud n h dlg wh h :

h u.n. o Dg d cm, d h’ l v

vl g hld wh dl wh h gg. i h w ll

hv w gh.

“For the irst time in the history o the world there is going

to be an international statement on what is a child soldier,

what is recruitment and use, what is conscription

– all this i s going to be deined.”

DA: What’s the relationship of your office to the ICC? Do you refer perpetrators?

rc: W ’ ; h sy cl . b i l m

wh h icc. th h icc ddd w g

thm Lg h m d hld. i ld m

lly gg d d. F h m h hy

h wld h gg l m wh

hld ld, wh m d , wh – ll h

gg dd. s w w hg d d , yg h

md w h h hld l ld gl wh hv

dd – md wv l m – d h hld ly

mll l h l . i hld mly

m. th w h w – h gl g

dd y Lg’ my h cg. thy , d d



6968

RELATED REsOuRCEs

Machel, Graça. Impact o Armed Conlict on Children . u.n. chld’ Fd.

1996. www..g/g

Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Children and

Armed Conflict. www..g/hld/l/glh/dx.hml

Otunnu, Olara. “svg chld m h sg W.” L

j b. k i p & j. al 11, 2006. www.dg.d/

d/dm//olmmyw.d

Paris Principles. 2007. www..g/hld/l/_dm/

l/ppl_en.d

United Nations Security Council Resolution 1612 on Children and Armed

Conflict. 2005. www..g/D//_l05.hm

h wld, h l gd. i hy hv ld wh g h

gd, h h y m gd. i h w hv h y

gd d vl ll , vm d hw ld dl

wh l whh wll m wd.

“Without that basic belie in the goodness o man,

a lot o this humanitarian work would not be possible.”

i h md l , y h d w l. Y

h l , y l dg ll d ym’

w h h, h h, ll y g h

ll – y h m xdy hg, gd hg h l

d wll. Y, i lv m lly gd.

sm d m wh qly i l l wh i h hm, wh

ll. i d i l hy hv h ll dl m, hy lv

h l gd d hy h h dl m l wy. b

wh h l h gd m, l h hm

w wld l.



70 71

ABOuT ThE unIVERsITY OF sAn DIEgO

chd 1949, h uvy s Dg (usD) rm chl

hgh lg ld 180 vlg s Dg’

M by. th uvy s Dg mmd mg

dm xll, xdg ll d l wldg,

g dv mmy d g ld ddd hl

d m v.

usD d dd h xm h chl d

h g h mg my l. Gll

d dvlm d h l h d vl xmd

hgh m d h h j b. k i

p & j, h Vl i, h t-bd i, h c

pl i Lw, h i Lw d phlhy d h il

c ch ed. Fhm, hgh l m v

h h sl i c, h jm bd sdl Ldh

d eh symm d h j b. k Dghd L s,

w v h mmy h xl h vl.

i y, usD h hd my dghd g ldg nl

p l d m pd jmmy c d o a, sm

c , ud n d ud s gvm l wll

md m d h wld. i 1996, h vy

hd pdl D w dd bll cl d b Dl.

th usD m, dd h m hlly q h

, w allá p. L h y s Dg, h m

m m s Dg d allá, F h wh vd h

m allá d H, my Md d, s. th sh

r h h hz h v-y ld uvy

allá v h h ldg h uvy

s Dg m. th h w dd y h d, bh

chl F bddy d Mh rl Hll, h h h

h hgh y d hmy. r dd, h h --

h- Dld p. shly c s d thlgy d h w

shl Ldh d ed s ldg, y h d.

a mm h g ph b k, usD d mg h

’ 100 v. usD 7,500 dgd, gd

d lw d g dm gm m h 60 ld dy

hgh x dm dv, ldg h cllg a d s d

h hl b adm, Ldh d ed s,

Lw, ng d Hlh s, d p sd.



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__ My g $1,500 m ld g h usD pd’ cl d h

i’ Ldh cl.

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Radhika Coomaraswamy -- Children and Armed Conflict: The International Response

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