Children in war and conflict areas experience unimaginable suffering. They are faced with fear, hunger and illnesses every day. Access to education remains unreachable for millions, since schools are destroyed or unsure. Many girls and boys become victims of violence, recruitment in armed groups or forced. The effects of the war are devastating and leave deep traces in their lives. Thanks to their donation, we offer these children protection and support.
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Children in war - data and facts
Most victims are civilians
There are currently wars or armed conflicts in more than 25 countries in the world. Armed conflicts are called war, which are constantly organized, organized as planned and centrally. At least one of the parties is one of the regular armed forces of a government. If these characteristics do not apply in full - for example, the fighting are not continuously, but rather occasional clashes - one speaks of an armed conflict.
In today's wars, most of the victims - unlike at the beginning of the 20th century - are civilians. They are often killed by so -called small weapons , which are also exported by Germany to conflict areas. Around 250,000 children under the age of 18 are child soldiers.
420 million children live in a war or conflict area. That is almost twice as many as 20 years ago. They suffer from fear, hunger and diseases. Around 27 million children cannot go to school due to the armed fights. Thousands of girls and boys are killed in warlike conflicts every year, injured, abducted, recruited into armed groups, sexually abused or forced. Hundreds of thousands suffer - and many of them die - from war consequences such as malnutrition, lack of drinking water and poor medical care. Hospitals and schools are attacked, humanitarian aid organizations are denied access to the needy.
Demands and goals
Terre des Hommes is committed to recruiting child soldiers in various international networks and campaigns and is committed to better protection of children and adolescents in war and conflict regions.
Child soldier
No child under the age of 18 may be used in armies, armed groups or other military associations - regardless of the function, whether as a fighter, spy, miner, cook, carrier or sex slave.
Stop of (German) arms exports
No weapons (especially small weapons), individual parts or ammunition may be exported to crisis regions - especially if children's soldiers are used there or other serious child rights violations take place. This also applies to Germany, one of the five largest arms exporters worldwide.
Children on the run
The Child Rights Convention must finally apply in Germany in the practice for refugee children after taking back the reservations in July 2010. For this, laws and regulations must be designed in such a way that the living conditions of refugee children actually improve.
Dominant
The international community must take responsibility for domestic people and give them protection. To do this, all states should sign and implement the UN guidelines for internal displacement.
Military advertising
Military advertising in minors must be stopped. This includes the diverse advertising measures of the Bundeswehr, for example in schools.
Punishment of those responsible
Those responsible for the recruitment of child soldiers and for the displacement of people from their homeland - whether governments or individuals - must be publicly named and sanctioned. Charges must be raised against those responsible in front of the International Criminal Court or before national courts.
Information material on children in war
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Ralf Willinger
Speaker children's rights and peace culture
