June 16, 2010
“I write with great concern over a June 14 report in the New York Times that US military financing to the Somali Transitional Federal Government is being used to pay for the use of child soldiers. Such assistance would appear to be in violation of the Child Soldier Prevention provision of the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 which prohibits US military assistance to governments of a country that use child soldiers,” Durbin wrote.
“We should be doing everything we can to not only end military support for governments that engage in this troubling practice, but to also help such children reintegrate into their families and society. I recognize that the Somali Transitional Federal Government is trying to bring some measure of stability to that war torn country. However, it should not do so on the backs of its precious children, and certainly not with the help of the American taxpayer.”
Amnesty International estimates that more than 250,000 children are fighting in active conflicts around the globe. In the last decade, 2 million children have been killed in combat and 6 million were seriously injured.
Child soldiers are often used in front line combat, serve as human mine detectors, participate in suicide missions, and act as spies, messengers and sex slaves. The United Nations recently reported that the use of child soldiers is on the rise in Somalia and that schools are being used as recruitment centers.
Senator Durbin has authored three laws restricting the use of child soldiers. The first, the Child Soldier Prevention Act, restricts U.S. military assistance to countries or entities which use children as soldiers. The second law, the Child Soldiers Accountability Act, makes it a federal crime to recruit or use child soldiers. The third, the Human Rights Enforcement Act, makes it unlawful to knowingly provide material support to the use of child soldiers.
Durbin asked Secretary Clinton to look into the reports that U.S. assistance is being used to pay for child soldiers and to ensure that no U.S. support was going to those who exploit children by using them as soldiers.
A copy of today’s letter appears below.
June 16, 2010
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
Department of State
2201 C Street NW ?Washington, DC 20520
Dear Secretary Clinton:
I write with great concern over a June 14 report in the New York Times that US military financing to the Somali Transitional Federal Government is being used to pay for the use of child soldiers. Such assistance would appear to be in violation of the Child Soldier Prevention provision of the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 which prohibits US military assistance to governments of a country that use child soldiers. Moreover, under the Durbin-Coburn Child Soldiers Accountability Act and the Durbin-Coburn Human Rights Enforcement Act, it is unlawful to knowingly provide material support to the use of child soldiers.
As you know, the tragic use of child soldiers continues to a problem around the world. Amnesty International estimates that globally more than 250,000 children are fighting in active conflicts. These young boys and girls fight on front lines of combat, serve as human mine detectors, participate in suicide missions, carry supplies, and act as spies, messengers, lookouts, and sex slaves – endangering their health and lives. Quite simply, they are robbed of their childhoods.
Furthermore, the lasting effects of war and abuse remain with them for years – too often for a lifetime. Former child soldiers are stigmatized and traumatized by their experience and left with neither family connections nor skills to allow them to transition successfully into productive adult lives. We should be doing everything we can to not only end military support for governments that engage in this troubling practice, but to also help such children reintegrate into their families and society.
I recognize that the Somali Transitional Federal Government is trying to bring some measure of stability to that war torn country. However, it should not do so on the backs of its precious children, and certainly not with the help of the American taxpayer.
Thank you for looking into this matter.
Sincerely,
Richard J. Durbin
U.S. Senator
Durbin Writes Clinton on US Support of Somali Government, Child Soldiers
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) wrote Secretary of State Hillary Clinton today asking her to look into reports that U.S. financial support to the Somali Transitional Federal Government is being used to pay for the use of child soldiers – potentially a violation of U.S. law. Durbin’s letter follows a report by the New York Times that the Somali government has hundreds of child soldiers on its front lines, some as young as 9 years old.“I write with great concern over a June 14 report in the New York Times that US military financing to the Somali Transitional Federal Government is being used to pay for the use of child soldiers. Such assistance would appear to be in violation of the Child Soldier Prevention provision of the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 which prohibits US military assistance to governments of a country that use child soldiers,” Durbin wrote.
“We should be doing everything we can to not only end military support for governments that engage in this troubling practice, but to also help such children reintegrate into their families and society. I recognize that the Somali Transitional Federal Government is trying to bring some measure of stability to that war torn country. However, it should not do so on the backs of its precious children, and certainly not with the help of the American taxpayer.”
Amnesty International estimates that more than 250,000 children are fighting in active conflicts around the globe. In the last decade, 2 million children have been killed in combat and 6 million were seriously injured.
Child soldiers are often used in front line combat, serve as human mine detectors, participate in suicide missions, and act as spies, messengers and sex slaves. The United Nations recently reported that the use of child soldiers is on the rise in Somalia and that schools are being used as recruitment centers.
Senator Durbin has authored three laws restricting the use of child soldiers. The first, the Child Soldier Prevention Act, restricts U.S. military assistance to countries or entities which use children as soldiers. The second law, the Child Soldiers Accountability Act, makes it a federal crime to recruit or use child soldiers. The third, the Human Rights Enforcement Act, makes it unlawful to knowingly provide material support to the use of child soldiers.
Durbin asked Secretary Clinton to look into the reports that U.S. assistance is being used to pay for child soldiers and to ensure that no U.S. support was going to those who exploit children by using them as soldiers.
A copy of today’s letter appears below.
June 16, 2010
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
Department of State
2201 C Street NW ?Washington, DC 20520
Dear Secretary Clinton:
I write with great concern over a June 14 report in the New York Times that US military financing to the Somali Transitional Federal Government is being used to pay for the use of child soldiers. Such assistance would appear to be in violation of the Child Soldier Prevention provision of the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 which prohibits US military assistance to governments of a country that use child soldiers. Moreover, under the Durbin-Coburn Child Soldiers Accountability Act and the Durbin-Coburn Human Rights Enforcement Act, it is unlawful to knowingly provide material support to the use of child soldiers.
As you know, the tragic use of child soldiers continues to a problem around the world. Amnesty International estimates that globally more than 250,000 children are fighting in active conflicts. These young boys and girls fight on front lines of combat, serve as human mine detectors, participate in suicide missions, carry supplies, and act as spies, messengers, lookouts, and sex slaves – endangering their health and lives. Quite simply, they are robbed of their childhoods.
Furthermore, the lasting effects of war and abuse remain with them for years – too often for a lifetime. Former child soldiers are stigmatized and traumatized by their experience and left with neither family connections nor skills to allow them to transition successfully into productive adult lives. We should be doing everything we can to not only end military support for governments that engage in this troubling practice, but to also help such children reintegrate into their families and society.
I recognize that the Somali Transitional Federal Government is trying to bring some measure of stability to that war torn country. However, it should not do so on the backs of its precious children, and certainly not with the help of the American taxpayer.
Thank you for looking into this matter.
Sincerely,
Richard J. Durbin
U.S. Senator