January 19, 2022 – Yesterday, WPDI’s Founder and CEO, Forest Whitaker, participated in a high-level event that marked the 25th anniversary of the mandate of the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict. At the event, which opened with a message from Secretary-General Guterres, Mr. Whitaker spoke on a subject matter expert panel and, while acknowledging the important work undertaken thus far, called upon the international community to “increase the world’s awareness about the situations of children affected by conflict.”
The event – organized in collaboration with the Permanent Mission of Norway to the United Nations and attended by UN officials, representatives of governments, and civil society – sought to look back at the progress made for children since the mandate of the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict was established by the UN General Assembly in December 1996. In addition to highlighting the more than 170,000 youths released from armed forces and groups since then, it also showcased the added value of the mandate as part of the human rights, development, and peacebuilding agendas. The event also served as an opportunity to look forward and explore ways in which the mandate could be further strengthened and generate further progress for the protection of boys and girls affected by conflict in the coming years, including by focusing on prevention and rehabilitation.
Through a video message, Forest Whitaker discussed how “the fates of the children and youths engulfed by conflict remains one of the most painful thorns in our consciousness as global citizens” despite the “real progress” that has been made. He spoke about his experiences meeting former child soldiers and how, oftentimes, their challenges can be immense: “I had met with former child soldiers some years before and learned of the immense obstacles they may face because they have lost years of education and simply because their communities will often reject them. Participating directly in the demobilization of child soldiers made me realize that their emancipation was only the beginning.”
To overcome these challenges, Mr. Whitaker called on the international community to do more to assist children affected by conflict. “There [has] to be a continuity of action on our part to help them reintegrate into society as normal citizens,” he said. “Former child soldiers who have been reintegrated and rehabilitated are among the most dedicated and motivated advocates for peace and reconciliation. With mindful assistance, they can become highly valuable assets for their community.”