Student Conference on Children in Armed Conflict

On December 4, 2003 more than 600 students (Grades 5-12) from five countries came together at the United Nations for a Student Conference on War Affected Children. Many Philadelphia area students came by bus for the day and interacted with students from Canada, Dominican Republic, Ireland, Mexico, and various parts of the United States.

Children affected by war are a major issue with young people. Gathering in Conference Room Four at the United Nations they learned about the plight of child soldiers and the work of the UN to help them. They viewed a film on child soldiers with Michael Douglas called What's Going On? They learned that there are about 300,000 children fighting today as child soldiers.

In the afternoon, students interacted with panelists facilitated by GEM President Wayne Jacoby to learn about War Affected Children from the perspective of a young man, Michael Kuch, caught up in the civil war in Sudan, to an older person, Eva Olsson a Holocaust Survivor. 

The day's program was coordinated through the UN Office on Children and Armed Conflict with the all day participation of Michelle Morris. A highlight of the day was meeting and interacting with Olara Otunnu, Special Representative fo the Secretary General for Children and Armed Conflict. They learned that the issue of child soldiers is complex and is only part of the problems affecting children in armed conflict.