Where did the Red Hands go?

Red Hands were recently sent to a number of missions of member states at the United Nations asking them to ratify the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict – an international treaty through which member states commit not to use children as soldiers. Ratification sets a standard to which the member states can be held.

The most recent group of Presbyterian Red Hands went to the missions of Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Djibouti, Estonia, the Dominican Republic, the Fiji Islands, the Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Iran, Lebanon, Liberia, the Federated State of Micronesia, Nauru, Nigeria, Pakistan, San Marino, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Suriname, and Zambia. Each of these member states has signed the Optional Protocol, but has not taken the step of ratification.

Of the member states that have received Red Hands from Presbyterians, Georgia and Congo have ratified the treaty; Ethiopia has signed the treaty.

The Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations is coordinating the Presbyterian Red Hand Campaign in partnership with the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program and the Child Advocacy Office.

Support the work of the Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations.

Photo of Red Hands being organized for mailing by Ricky Velez-Negron.