At the head of a strong worldwide network of experts and coordinator for the Canadian Forum on Children in Armed Conflicts since 2006, the IBCR is responsible for extensive consultations and expertise on the matter, all geared towards a better understanding of the challenges ahead, identification of gaps and putting forward new solutions. The advisory process conducted by the IBCR led to the publication in 2003 of the guide «Children and Armed conflict, a Guide to International Humanitarian and Human Rights Law » by the Bureau and the Children and Armed Conflict Unit. This project, conducted jointly by the Children’s Legal Centre and the Human Rights Centre at the University of Essex, was financed by the government of Canada and offers a detailed review of international law on the protection of children affected by armed conflicts. This publication was reviewed and updated in March 2010 in order to expand its scope and to further develop its content.
The objectives of the publication of a Guide on children in armed conflicts are mainly to: - Foster a better understanding of the legislative framework in terms of protection of children affected by armed conflicts;
- Compensate for the lack of resources, in order for countries affected by armed conflicts to implement new laws protecting the rights of child victims at the national level.
Since 1999, the International Bureau for Children’s Rights (IBCR) is involved with the promotion and protection of the rights of children affected by armed conflicts, with the goal to fight against all forms of exploitation experienced by these children.
The IBCR also oversees series of studies and research on various topics associated with children and armed conflicts (for example, the country profiles for making children’s rights work – for the South-East Asia region in 2007, North Africa in 2008, Great Lakes in 2009, and MENA in 2010) as well as publishing a monthly newsletter devoted to worldwide developments on children and armed conflicts.
In recent years, the IBCR was asked to design, develop and lead various workshops on issues related to children and armed conflicts. For instance, the IBCR has trained national coalitions of NGOs on international laws and standards about armed conflicts and the establishment of monitoring and reporting mechanisms in Senegal, Ivory Coast and Guinea. In December 2010, the IBCR also organised, in collaboration with Francopol and the International Organisation of La Francophonie, a regional workshop for the head officials of police schools from 10 West African countries in order to develop an action plan to improve training destined to armed forces on children’s rights in the region.
For nearly five years, the IBCR has been asked by partners to dispense workshops and has been responsible for series of lectures on children and humanitarian response as part of the University of Quebec in Montreal and the Peace Operations Training Institute summer seminars.
To access the newsletters on children in armed conflicts, click here.