Vancouver Principles Workshop

More than 100 diplomats, police, military and child protection experts gathered in Ottawa as part of a review workshop to enhance the application guide for implementing the Principles from Vancouver.

The Vancouver Principles On Peacekeeping and Preventing the Recruitment and Use of Child Soldiers aim to improve the situation of children in armed conflict settings by prioritizing the protection of children within peace operations as central to the overall mandate of all United Nations Peacekeeping Missions.

The Bureau had the honor to host an opening panel on Tuesday. Being present:

  • United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Children and Armed Conflict.
  • A retired commander of South Africa who served as commander-in-chief of peacekeepers in peacekeeping missions in Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo. He was the first to adopt practical guidelines for the military on the protection of children at MONUSCO.
  • A former child soldier who was able to challenge the audience on the challenges of reintegration and the importance of working together to make a difference.

The IBCR also facilitated various workshops for three days, and presented its experience on the changes needed to better train staff on child protection prior to its deployment in peacekeeping operations.