The Dallaire Initiative and the RDF engage governments and partners to discuss new ways of ending the Recruitment and Use of Child Soldiers

Kigali, 13 November 2019

The Roméo Dallaire Child Soldiers Initiative (Dallaire Initiative) and the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) will co-host a regional conference in Kigali on 14 November 2019, to empower nations to take proactive, early and coordinated action to prevent the recruitment and use of children as soldiers by implementing the Vancouver Principles on Prevention of the recruitment and Use of Child Soldiers.   

Rwanda was the first African nation to endorse the Vancouver Principles on Peacekeeping and the Prevention of the Recruitment and Use of Child Soldiers, which are now endorsed by 95 nations globally.

Currently, Rwanda is the second largest troop contributing nation to UN peacekeeping missions. Rwanda is actively participating in UN peacekeeping and is committed to furthering the protection of civilians, as was demonstrated through the creation of the Kigali Principles on the Protection of Civilians.

The Dallaire Initiative and the Ministry of Defence have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding to further this commitment to the prevention of the recruitment and use of children in Africa and around the globe.

About 60 participants mainly from Security Organs in the region and other partners will attend the conference.