Red Hands at work

Georgia agrees to protocol on child soldiers

In late July 2010, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) mailed drawings of red hands and messages to the Mission of Georgia to the United Nations as part of its Red Hand Campaign to end the use of children as soldiers around the world. The red hands and letters were drawn and signed by youth and leaders at the 2010 Presbyterian Youth Triennium.

On 3 August, the country of Georgia added its name to the member states of the United Nations which have agreed to the provisions of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Involvement of Children in armed conflict.

The Optional Protocol requires that States prevent the recruitment and use of children under the age of 18 in armed conflicts. It is one of the most important documents in international law which helps end the use of children in armed conflict.

Two other United Nations member states, Seychelles and Guyana have also recently joined Georgia in their endorsement of the Optional Protocol. Seychelles ratified the Optional Protocol on 10 August after signing the document in January 2001. Guyana acceded on 11 August 2010.