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Monday, 31 October 2011
Page: 11957

Child Soldiers

To the Honourable the Speaker and Members of the House of Representatives

This petition of concerned students and community of The King's Preparatory School in Parramatta, draws to the attention of the House the plight of child soldiers.

There are approximately 300,000 child soldiers acting as front-line soldiers in conflicts around the world and in the last ten years, hundreds of thousands of children have fought and died in conflicts around the world. The problem is most critical in Africa, where children as young as eight have been involved in armed conflicts. Children are also used as soldiers in various Asian countries and in parts of Latin America, Europe and the Middle East.

We therefore call on the House to watch the situation of children recruited and used as child soldiers anywhere in the world, and to use diplomatic paths such as writing to other ambassadors to help end this practice.

from 70 citizens