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Launch of Watchlist on Children and Armed Conflict

New York, NY

Issues Comprehensive Reports on Children in Specific Conflict Zones

Works to Inform Policy Makers and Protect Children’s Rights

New York, NY, April 29, 2002—Several nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) announced today that they have joined forces to form the Watchlist on Children and Armed Conflict to monitor and report on the situation of children in specific war zones.

As heads of states from over 120 nations prepare to discuss improving the lives of children at the United Nations Special Session on Children in New York (May 8-10), children and armed conflict will be a high priority on the agenda.

"It is time that decision-makers turn words into action," says Mary Diaz, Executive Director, Women’s Commission for Refugee Women and Children and Co-chair of the Watchlist. “Believe it or not, there hasn’t been an effort to collect and publicize information about the impact of armed conflict on children on a country by country basis. This information is essential to ensure international commitments to protect children become a reality.”

For the first time, decision-makers will have one document on a country, Afghanistan for example, that informs them of key social and other indicators, including child health and education, number of landmines and small arms, trafficking, exploitation and child soldiers.

Until recently children have been ignored in Security Council debates and other forums; the Watchlist provides policy makers with the information to make better decisions about the security of children. The Watchlist compiles first-hand information from a broad network of agencies working to protect children in specific conflict areas. These reports are comprehensive resource tools to inform the UN Security Council, UN and international agencies, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), the media and others.

To date, the Watchlist has profiled Afghanistan, Angola and Burundi. Reports on West Bank/Gaza Strip and Israel, Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo are in development.

"We hope that this new reporting mechanism will encourage the development of local child protection networks and lead to long-term improvements in the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and other instruments," says Kathy Vandergrift, Child Rights Advocate, World Vision International and Co-chair of the Watchlist on Children and Armed Conflict.”

The Watchlist will officially be launched in conjunction with a United Nation’s Special Session on Children panel on protecting children in conflict settings. “Protecting Boys and Girls During Armed Conflict,” [working title] which is scheduled from 4:30 to 6pm, on Thursday, May 9.

The Watchlist Steering Committee includes CARE International, Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers, International Save the Children Alliance, Norwegian Refugee Council, Women’s Commission on Refugee Women and Children and World Vision International.

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Watchlist experts and youth from war-affected areas available for comment. To arrange interviews please contact: Diana Quick (212) 551-3087 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or Julia Freedson (212) 551-2743 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Watchlist reports are available on www.watchlist.org and www.crin.org/watchlist

For Immediate Release
Contact: Diana Quick (212) 551-3087 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
or Julia Freedson (212) 551-2743 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it