USE OF CHILD SOLDIERS IN WARFARE

Early day motion 502, tabled 3 December 2001 by Eddie McGrady (Social Democratic and Labour Party). Signed by 98 members.

That this House notes that 300,000 children, boys and girls, are fighting as soldiers with government armed forces and armed opposition groups in more than 30 countries worldwide; further notes that children are particularly at risk in Africa and parts of Asia and the Pacific; believes that the use of children as soldiers must be made completely unacceptable in any circumstances; further believes that governments in developed countries must be persuaded to take action not only to protect children in their countries but to protect children worldwide; and therefore urges the British Government immediately to ratify the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Children on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict and to persuade all other European Union countries to do the same.

Signatures by party: Labour 61, Liberal Democrat 14, UUP 5, DUP 4, Scottish National Party 4, Labour/Co-operative 3, Social Democratic and Labour Party 3, Conservative 2, Plaid Cymru 2.