On Red Hand Day - Feb 12! We expose the brutal realities faced by Children Associated with Armed Forces and Groups (CAAFAG). 🚨 Some are as young as seven—forced to fight, plant explosives, or serve as human shields. In 2023 alone, 7,751 verified cases of child recruitment were reported, though the real numbers are far higher. ⚠️ Once recruited, these children endure horrific conditions—carrying weapons, surviving ambushes, and living under constant threat. With no healthcare, no protection, and no way out, many suffer lifelong trauma, disabilities, or death. Governments must act—criminalising child recruitment and enforcing existing laws. All actors must uphold conduct standards, prevent recruitment within their ranks, and commit to child protection training. There is no justification—only accountability.

The Overlooked Crisis By the end of 2023, 7,751 cases of child recruitment were reported—yet many go undocumented. In 74% of global conflicts, children have been recruited, with girls making up 63%. The longer a conflict lasts, the higher the risk for girls. Once recruited, children endure brutal conditions—carrying weapons, planting explosives, and serving as human shields. Girls face additional vulnerabilities, including forced marriage, sexual violence, and stigma that hinders reintegration. Children with disabilities are also disproportionately targeted and often the last to receive protection. Governments must enforce gender-sensitive reintegration policies, ensuring access to trauma care and economic empowerment. DDR programs must address the distinct needs of girls, while communities must challenge harmful stereotypes and create safe environments for returning children. Civil society must demand tailored interventions and amplify survivor voices. #RedHandDay #SC4REDHANDDAY.

On Red Hand Day - Feb 12! We expose the brutal realities faced by Children Associated with Armed Forces and Groups (CAAFAG). 🚨 Some are as young as seven—forced to fight, plant explosives, or serve as human shields. In 2023 alone, 7,751 verified cases of child recruitment were reported, though the real numbers are far higher. ⚠️ Once recruited, these children endure horrific conditions—carrying weapons, surviving ambushes, and living under constant threat. With no healthcare, no protection, and no way out, many suffer lifelong trauma, disabilities, or death. Governments must act—criminalising child recruitment and enforcing existing laws. All actors must uphold conduct standards, prevent recruitment within their ranks, and commit to child protection training. There is no justification—only accountability.

🔴✋ As Red Hand Day approaches on February 12... ⚠️ Before Conflict: Children in war zones often grow up in fragile states where poverty, insecurity, and lack of education leave them vulnerable to recruitment. Armed groups exploit their desperation—manipulating them with false promises of safety, food, or revenge for lost families. Some are abducted outright. Boys are trained as fighters, while girls are subjected to sexual violence and forced servitude. ⚖️ The Vancouver Principles reinforce accountability in protecting children in conflict. They emphasise the prevention of child recruitment, the prosecution of perpetrators under mechanisms like the Rome Statute of the ICC, and the integration of child protection into peacekeeping operations. 🛡️ To uphold these principles, all peacekeeping missions, including @UNPeacekeeping, must be equipped with the financial and human resources necessary to monitor, report, and respond to grave violations. Strengthening child protection capacity in peacekeeping & special missions is essential to effectively implementing the #CAAC mandate. #RaiseYourRed #SC4REDHANDDAY