§ Mrs. SpelmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what measures are in place(a) to stop the exploitation of children as soldiers and (b) to bring those responsible to justice. [133559]
§ Mr. RammellWe are working with other UK Government Departments, other governments, the non-governmental community and the multi-lateral system (including UN and regional mechanisms) to prevent, reduce and resolve armed conflicts. We consider this to be the most effective way of stopping the exploitation of children as soldiers.
535WWork is on-going to integrate child-specific issues into post-conflict truth and justice mechanisms to that end, examples being in Sierra Leone and Rwanda. Furthermore, the Rome Statute establishing the International Criminal Court recognises the enlistment or use of children under the age of 15 years to be a war crime, and the ICC provides a means by which to prosecute such offences.
In June 2003, the UK ratified the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict. The Protocol, ratified by 64 countries worldwide, increases the protection afforded to children by prohibiting their participation in armed conflict.