Retired Lt.-Gen. Roméo Dallaire said the use of child soldiers must stop during his talk at a sold-out Mayfair Theatre Dec. 2.
Approximately 250,000 children are being used as soldiers in conflicts around the world, according to Dallaire’s new book, They Fight Like Soldiers, They Die Like Children.
First faced with child soldiers during his time in Rwanda, Dallaire has dedicated his efforts to eradicate the use of children in conflict.
This has included starting up the Child Soldiers Initiative, a research, training and advocacy group.
The Child Soldiers Initiative defines a child soldier to be “any person below 18 years of age who is or has been recruited or used by an armed force or armed group in any capacity . . . It does not refer to a child who is taking or has taken a direct part in hostilities.”
Dallaire uses his story as a backdrop to present a very controversial question, “Do you kill children who kill?”
Dallaire repeated this phrase many times throughout his presentation.
“A child soldier is the most sophisticated, low-technology weapon system on the battlefield today,” Dallaire said. “They are used massively both in some governmental armies and non-state actors as the primary instrument of war.”
The use of children in conflict began in the late 1980s in Mozambique, Africa. Currently, there are around 250,000 child soldiers worldwide, of which 40 per cent are girls, Dallaire said.
“Girls are up front, leading in shooting and killing,” Dallaire said. “Also, in these male-dominated societies, they run the camp, they get the food and, also, they are the sex slaves and bush wives.”
According to the United Nations, approximately two million children have been killed in conflict over the last 10 years.
“We must go beyond our borders and we must engage in advancing human rights. Not conflict resolution, but conflict prevention,” Dallaire said.
Dallaire is not alone as he goes forward with his cause.
Heather Stecher said she recently moved to Ottawa with the goal of helping Dallaire with his mission. She stood at the microphone to tell Dallaire her late husband’s story and let him know that she was there to help.
“[Dallaire] is a real Canadian hero,” Stecher said after the presentation. “An inspiration.”
After his speech, Dallaire received a standing ovation. Many in attendance lined up to get their book autographed or picture taken.
Dallaire’s appearance was organized by the Ottawa International Writers Festival.
“Dallaire is the kind of person who used dedication, passion and perseverance to change the outcome of many people’s lives who wouldn’t have got the chance to do it themselves,” said first-year Canadian studies student Rachel Snider.
“He is Canada’s gem on the humanitarian front,” she said.