Children’s Rights Under Fire: Experts Decry Child Soldier Recruitment in Tindouf Camps
Geneva, Switzerland – A recent panel discussion at the 57th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva brought the harrowing issue of child soldier recruitment into sharp focus. Experts and activists voiced their condemnation of this practice, highlighting the plight of children caught in armed conflicts worldwide, with a particular emphasis on the situation in the Tindouf camps.
The panel, organized by the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, provided a platform for harrowing testimonies and urgent calls to action. Abdulkader El Filali, President of the International Center for the Prevention of Child Recruitment, presented a chilling report documenting the fate of children forced into armed groups in various conflict zones. El Filali’s report underscored the devastating impact of such practices on children’s physical and mental well-being, often robbing them of their childhoods and futures.
While the report acknowledged the complexities of tackling this global issue, it pointed to a beacon of hope: South-South cooperation initiatives. Programs like the Atlantic Initiative for Sahel Countries, El Filali argued, demonstrate the power of collaborative efforts in combating child soldier recruitment. By sharing best practices, resources, and expertise, nations can create a united front against this egregious violation of children’s rights.
The discussion took a particularly poignant turn as Spanish activist Pedro Ignacio Altamirano brought attention to the dire situation in the Tindouf camps. Altamirano delivered a scathing critique of the Polisario Front, accusing the group of perpetrating crimes against children within the camps and systematically denying them their fundamental rights. His testimony painted a grim picture of a generation of children trapped in a cycle of displacement and exploitation, deprived of access to education, healthcare, and a safe environment to grow and thrive.
Lahcen Naji, President of the Independent Network for Human Rights in Geneva, emphasized the broader implications of conflict on human development, particularly in Africa. Naji argued that persistent instability in regions like the Sahara and the Sahel region poses a significant obstacle to achieving the right to development. He highlighted the devastating economic and social consequences of conflict, which often exacerbate poverty, inequality, and displacement, further jeopardizing the well-being of children and communities.
Aymen Okaily, President of the Maat Foundation for Peace, Development, and Human Rights, echoed Naji’s concerns, drawing attention to the multifaceted challenges hindering the realization of the right to development in the Arab world and Africa. Okaily identified poverty, armed conflict, climate change, rapid population growth, and inadequate development funding as major impediments to progress. He underscored the urgent need for a comprehensive approach to address these interconnected challenges, emphasizing the importance of investing in education, healthcare, and sustainable development initiatives to break the cycle of poverty and conflict.
Okaily presented a stark reminder of the economic toll of conflict, revealing that conflicts in the Arab region alone have cost a staggering $900 billion between 2011 and 2018. This staggering figure, he argued, represents a tragic misallocation of resources that could have been directed towards vital development programs, further underscoring the urgent need for peaceful solutions and sustainable development strategies.
In his closing remarks, Okaily emphasized that the pervasive security challenges in Africa pose a significant obstacle to achieving the right to development. He expressed his deep concern that the continent has become a breeding ground for instability and conflict, jeopardizing the lives and futures of countless children. Okaily’s words served as a powerful call to action, urging the international community to prioritize conflict prevention, peacebuilding, and the protection of children’s rights as essential pillars of sustainable development in Africa and beyond.
