Lt. Gen. Roméo Dallaire has experienced the realities of war first-hand during his distinguished military career. After serving in many roles, he has dedicated his life to preventing child soldiers from experiencing those same realities.
ROMÉO DALLAIRE
Founder, Dallaire Child Soldiers initiative
“A child solider is not just a boy with an AK-47 it is all youth under the age of 18, of which 40 percent are girls. Any child that is employed by any non-state actor or government forces in any capacity, from spying to washing dishes, are all considered part of this construct of child soldiers and as such, it goes against the protocol on child rights.”
The Roméo Dallaire Child Soldiers Initiative is approaching the issue of child soldiers from multiple sides through training, research, and advocacy. They conduct training with police, military, and peace keeping forces.
ROMÉO DALLAIRE
Founder, Dallaire Child Soldiers initiative
“Now child soldiers are so prevalent in all conflicts, so we give them the opportunity to do the training scenario-based and based on field experiences and research on how children are used and how they should react when they face them. So you get a far more professional reaction instead of an instinctive reaction from them.”
Roméo Dallaire, and the initiative's executive director, Dr. Shelly Whitman, met with Pope Francis in January. They discussed having the Vatican become the 73rd state to agree to the principles of professionalizing their forces regarding child soldiers.
“I am a simple soldier and a senator who is here to see you sir. Dr. Shelly Whitman our executive director.”
“It is wonderful to meet you.”
According to the United Nations, there are 66 armed groups using child soldiers to some extent. Exact numbers on how many child soldiers there are around the world are not known at the time.
