PRESS RELEASE: Dallaire Institute’s African Centre of Excellence commemorates International Day Against Use of Child Soldiers (Red Hand Day)

KIGALI, RWANDA: The Dallaire Institute for Children, Peace, and Security will commemorate Red Hand Day 2025 to highlight the urgent need to address the prevention of grave violations against children by hosting a series of critical panel discussions. This two-day conference will focus on key issues affecting children in armed conflict and armed violence. The recruitment and use of children is a global crisis that impacts the attainment of peace and security. The 2024 UN Secretary General’s Annual Report on Children and Armed Conflict identified that the killing and maiming of children and the recruitment and use of children were the two most prevalent grave violations. The conference, taking place in Kigali, Rwanda, on February 19th & 20th, will convene policymakers, subject matter experts, youth, and practitioners from civil society organizations, international organizations, and the regional members of security sector institutions. The overarching goals of the conference are to engage in discussions assessing the nexus of child trafficking and the recruitment and use of children, the vulnerabilities of children in detention settings, the pathways for action on preventing interconnected violations against children, as well as the related moral injury impacts on those who interact with children in such challenging environments. The discussions will also bring attention to the need for the implementation of key policy frameworks, especially the Vancouver Principles and the Safe Schools Declaration on the prevention of grave violations against children. Children living in fragile contexts endure heightened risks of grave violations, intensified by global crises such as climate change, economic instability, and the rapid proliferation of digital technologies. Despite international frameworks like the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Vancouver Principles, significant gaps remain in translating these policies into impactful actions. Red Hand Day seeks to bridge these gaps by fostering dialogue and collaboration among key stakeholders. “We must all act with urgency and precision to bridge the gaps in protecting children in fragile environments”, said Ferdinand Safari, Director of the Dallaire Institute’s African Centre of Excellence. “It is imperative to move beyond a one-size-fits-all approach and commit to contextualized solutions that address the complex realities that children are facing today.” As the global community observes Red Hand Day on February 12th, the Dallaire Institute reaffirms its commitment to advocating for the rights and safety of children worldwide and most importantly children affected by armed conflict. “At a time when the world is increasingly polarized and volatile, it is imperative that we remind the world about their commitments to protect children and to prioritize their needs in solutions to create peace,” stated, Dr. Shelly Whitman, Executive Director of the Dallaire Institute for Children, Peace and Security. Child trafficking and recruitment into criminal networks are a scourge that threatens peace and equality,” added Julien Vikemba, Youth Advisory Council Member of the Dallaire Institute. “A child should hold a schoolbook, not a weapon. A young girl should not be forced into early marriage. Every child should dream of the future, not bear the burdens of adulthood. Protecting childhood means securing a more just and safer world for all. About the Dallaire Institute for Children, Peace, and Security The Dallaire Institute for Children, Peace, and Security advances innovative strategies for preventing the recruitment and use of children in armed conflict and armed violence. Through interdisciplinary and applied research, global advocacy, capacity building and engagement (with the security sector and communities), the Dallaire Institute advances understanding about the dynamics which perpetuate intergenerational cycles of armed violence and the factors which increase the insecurity of children. Through this work, the Dallaire Institute is building a holistic approach to preventing children’s recruitment and use in armed violence while also pursuing the ultimate vision of building a world where children are at the heart of peace and security.

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PRESS RELEASE: Dallaire Institute’s African Centre of Excellence commemorates International Day Against Use of Child Soldiers (Red Hand Day)