“ Adrenaline is pumping through my body, pushing me to run but all I can master is a slow jog. The look on their faces is stuck in my mind, their screams echoes in my ears and my head is about to explode. How did it all come to this? What have I done? The guilt is coming back. I can feel it, spreading from my feet to my fingers, entangling me and pulling me down. Shaking my head I try to push the thoughts away and focus on the muddy road in front of me. That is where the forest ends and so does my cover. From now on I will have to move through open ground.”
© “Faces” – Kajsa Berg
(To read the short story click here)
Over 200.000 children are currently serving as soldiers in more then twenty countries, most of these in Africa. Of nine governments worldwide implicated in the recruitment or use of children as soldiers, eight receive US military assistance. US tax dollars should not be used to support the exploitation of children as soldiers and US weapons should not end up in the hands of children.
This bill will provide clear incentives for governments currently implicated in the recruitment and use of child soldiers to end this practice and demobilize children from their forces. It also encourages the United States to expand funding to rehabilitate former child soldiers and work with the international community to bring to justice rebel armed groups that kidnap children for use as soldiers. (hrw.org)
To read more about the Child Soldier Prevention Act click here
Help support the Child Soldier Prevention Act of 2007 by writing a letter to your Members of Congress urging them to co-sponsor the Act.
For a sample letter click here (© HRW)
Locate your Members of Congress’s adresses at: www.senate.gov or www.house.gov
Together we can make a difference!
– Kajsa, Admin Twende Twende
admin.twende.twende@gmail.com
