UNICEF: Effects of War in Focus on the Universal Day of the Child
Ishmael Beah, Grace Akallo and Kon Kelie have all survived the experience of being child soldiers. All three were on hand as the world commemorated Universal Children's Day on Nov. 20 and UNICEF welcomed the launch of a new group – the Network of Young People Affected by War – which was established by young people with firsthand experience of the hardships children face in conflict zones.
Shotlist:
Script
Ishmael Beah, Grace Akalo and Kon Kelie share many things in common, among them, they share the suffering and survival of child soldiers who today have a fighting chance in life.
SOUNDBITE, Ishmael Beah, former child soldier: "I was in the war as a child soldier between the ages of 13 to a little over 15. And what happened is that UNICEF came into the country and started to help remove children and put them in local rehabilitation centres so I was removed by them and placed in once of these centres."
Like Ishmael, over 250,000 children continue to be recruited unlawfully to participate in armed conflicts as soldiers. This is taking place every day, in violation of children's rights. Recruiting destroys their childhood and compromises their future.
SOUNDBITE, Mrs. Radhika Coomaraswamy, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict:
"UNICEF of course is the central agency for children. They are most effective in the field. It is they that actually help us do the monitoring of the violations. They who actually do the programmatic response to reintegrate so their field experience is really what keeps this issue alive and it's their experience that helps us devise ideas, projects, to try and deal with it. They are key to it."
Ishmael, Grace and Kon celebrated as the world commemorated Universal Children's Day and UNICEF welcomed the launch of a new group which aims to amplify the voice of those suffering as a result of conflict.
The new network, called Network of Young People Affected by War, was launched in conjunction with a photo exhibition at the United Nations in New York, hosted by Mrs. Radhika Coomaraswamy.
SOUNDBITE, Kon Kelei, Former Child Soldier:
"This network will be a big help to Sudan where I came from for two simple reasons. We will be more effective in advising the organisations involved in transforming the situation in Sudan. We will be specific examples of the kids who are helpless in child labour and are well wondering how I can go ahead. They will stand and they will see that somebody who was once at the place and he or she is at another place."
Another place that provides hope for children in armed conflict.
Shotlist
1. Medium shot, Ishmael Beah, Grace Akalo and Kon Kelie at photo exhibit on Child Soldiers – "Children of War: Broken Childhood"
2. Close up Ishmael Beah
3. Close up Grace Akalo
4. SOUNDBITE, Ishmael Beah, former child soldier: "I was in the war as a child soldier between the ages of 13 to a little over 15. And what happened is that UNICEF came into the country and started to help remove children and put them in local rehabilitation centres so I was removed by them and placed in once of these centres."
5. FILE, child soldiers from Liberia date unknown
6. FILE, wounded 14-year-old rebel soldier lies on battlefield in Colombia
7. FILE, Rwandan woman with hands cut off
8. FILE, families fleeing conflict in Yugoslavia
9. SOUNDBITE, Mrs. Radhika Coomaraswamy, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict:
"UNICEF of course is the central agency for children. They are most effective in the field. It is they that actually help us do the monitoring of the violations. They who actually do the programmatic response to reintegrate so their field experience is really what keeps this issue alive and it's their experience that helps us devise ideas, projects, to try and deal with it. They are key to it."
10. Med shot, Ishmael Beah, Grace Akalo and Kon Kelie at photo exhibit on Child Soldiers – "Children of War: Broken Childhood."
11. Med shot, Ismael Beah Grace Akalo and Kon Kelie walking to podium at photo exhibit
12. Med shot women looking at photos at exhibit
13. Close up of photo as exhibit
14. Close up Mrs. Radhika Coomaraswamy
15. SOUNDBITE, Kon Kelei, Former Child Soldier:
"This network will be a big help to Sudan where I came from for two simple reasons. We will be more effective in advising the organisations involved in transforming the situation in Sudan. We will be specific examples of the kids who are helpless in child labour and are well wondering how I can go ahead. They will stand and they will see that somebody who was once at the place and he or she is at another place."
16. FILE Liberia child soldiers
17. FILE medium shot Sudan child soldiers laying down weapons Rumbek, southern Sudan
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