CONTEMPORARY SLAVERY: CHILD SOLDIERS

Following Sunday's 200th anniversary of the passing of the Abolition of the Slave Trade Act, Foreign Office Minister Ian McCartney is this week highlighting contemporary forms of slavery and the work of the UK Government to eradicate it. Today he said:

'Today while children in Britain go to school or play with their friends, in other parts of the world an estimated 300,000 children are forced to fight in armed conflict. Children in situations of armed conflict have their childhoods stolen. They are subjected to the most horrific rights violations, including physical mistreatment and torture, forced participation in violence against other children and adults, sexual violence and rape, and the destruction of family and community life. This is a particularly distressing example of contemporary slavery and modern day conflict.

'The United Kingdom is committed to taking action at all levels to improve the situation of children caught up in armed conflict and we are using all the levers that are available to us both internationally and bilaterally. For example, in Uganda, the Lord's Resistance Army's twenty year campaign has resulted in over 20,000 children being abducted, many of whom remain unaccounted for. The UK is working hard to support efforts to end the conflict in northern Uganda - and so ensure the practice of using child soldiers is ended. We are urging both sides in the conflict to demonstrate a clear commitment to dialogue. We have contributed £250,000 to a UN appeal fund to support the Juba mediation process - which we hope can resume as soon as possible.'

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