Join the Conflict Children campaign
12 September 2008
| First News - the
award-winning weekly children’s newspaper - launches their schools
campaign today,
|
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The aim is to raise awareness amongst UK children of the effects of war on children and for them to have a voice in supporting children living in conflict zones.
Running over the next year, Conflict Children aims to involve every school in
the UK. The campaign draws attention to the millions of children around the
world affected by conflict, and calls for an end to the use of child soldiers.
It will enable children in the UK to learn about conflict and to have a voice
about issues that concern them.
Conflict children around the world
| Millions of children around the world are affected by conflict. Their normal lives are disrupted, often leaving them with little to eat, no access to healthcare, or education. They may become separated from their families and, with their homes destroyed, many become refugees.
Readers told
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(1.41mb)What can you do?
The Campaign will run throughout the 2008-9 academic year and the aim is to
involve every school in the UK. It is supported by an
educational resource pack devised for 7-14 year olds.
By taking part in the campaign children in the UK will gain an understanding of
some of the causes and effects of conflict, how conflict can be prevented, and
how resolution and recovery can be brought about.
They will also play their own part in helping to change the world for children
affected by conflict.
By joining the campaign, each school will sign a letter of support to Douglas
Alexander, Secretary of State for International Development, and David Miliband,
the Foreign Secretary calling for an end to the use of child soldiers and
protection for all children from the effects of conflict. First News will ask
the UK government to share the views of UK children wherever possible during the
next year.
"I’m delighted at this international campaign to help children affected by
conflict.
"This is a crucial issue for the future of our planet and we will be working
closely with First News and Save the Children to make sure the voices of British
children are heard around the world.”
Douglas Alexander, Secretary of State for International Development
"Sadly, wars affect millions of people around the world. But it is particularly
sad when children are the victims of war - when they lose their parents, their
homes, or even their lives.
"This campaign highlights the important issue of children damaged by conflict.
It is a great opportunity for British children to learn about the issue and to
find out what they can do to help."
David Miliband, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
What does the UK government do to help children in conflict?
We work closely with the
Foreign
and Commonwealth Office (FCO) to help children affected by conflict.
Together we work with the
Ministry
of Defence (MOD) and governments worldwide to help prevent conflict, reduce
its impact and build peace.
The UK government funds national governments, the United Nations, and charities
like Save the Children to run aid programmes to deal with the effects of
conflict on communities and to help prevent and resolve conflict.
We manage a Conflict Prevention Pool to help prevent violent conflict, stop it
recurring and societies to rebuild. We also run a Stabilisation Aid Fund to
support countries in particularly hostile situations that are emerging from
conflict like Afghanistan and Iraq.
Links
- "Grown ups fight your own wars!" say UK kids in biggest ever schools campaign - Press release, 12 September 2008
