International Center For Research On Prevention Of Child Soldiers Inaugurated In Dakhla
Dakhla, April 1 (TNA) The International Center for Research on the Prevention of Child Soldiers was inaugurated Thursday in Dakhla, with the aim of contributing to the fight against the recruitment of child soldiers, through the dissemination of research to be carried out by the Center and its wide distribution.
The Center was inaugurated by minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Abroad, Nasser Bourita, and the Chief Executive Officer of the Center, Abdelkader Filali, in the presence of the Wali of the Dakhla-Oued Eddahab region, governor of the province of Oued Eddahab, Lamine Benomar, the ambassador, director general of the Moroccan Agency for International Cooperation (AMCI), Mohamed Methqal, and elected officials, as well as consuls general of several African countries in Dakhla.
Its objective is to raise awareness, in particular, of the fate of child soldiers, the processes of their enlistment, as well as the underlying causes that fuel the persistence of this scourge. This structure also seeks to provide precise, qualitative and quantitative data in order to carry out an action based on academic research.
Speaking to MAP, Filali stressed that this Center will focus its missions on studies, research and consultations on the prevention and exploitation of children in conflict zones. Filali, also a professor at the University of Ottawa, noted that this structure will be equipped with mechanisms for international advocacy within United Nations organizations in the various fora, in collaboration with civil society around the world and civil authorities working in this area.
The Center will also focus on research on the African continent, with the aim of disseminating data on a large scale.
In this regard, he said that this Research Center has executives, academicians and university graduates who will be equipped with mechanisms for monitoring the various violations in conflict zones around the world. In order to address the vulnerability of children who are exploited and used in armed conflicts, the International Center for Research on the Prevention of Child Soldiers will join efforts with United Nations agencies, international and regional organizations, international networks and civil society to develop a common research program.
Through academic research, partnerships and collaborations, the Center will deploy strategies to deal with all forms of enlistment of children and conduct an assessment and census of unregistered child soldiers, while offering innovative solutions to combat their exploitation in armed conflicts.
The opening ceremony took place in the presence of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad, Mamadou Tangara, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Union of the Comoros, in charge of the Diaspora and the Francophonie, Dhoihir Dhoulkamal, the Deputy Foreign Minister of Somalia, Mahmoud Abdi Hassan, and the Secretary of State for International Cooperation of Guinea-Bissau, Udé Fati.