Positive Development

#bepositive #makeadifference #success #hope #love #childrenNOTsoldiers #elephantconservation #bethechangeyouwantoseeintheworld Check out my bio at http://about.me/StephScott

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Monthly Roundup May 2026

Child Protection in a Resource-Constrained World: From Challenges in Financing to Innovative Solutions

2026 Annual Meeting for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action

Date: 9th to 11th of June 2026

Location: Online - Virtual Platform (Zoom)

"At a time when humanitarian needs are escalating while resources are tightening and the global legal and normative framework for protecting children due to increasing violations of international humanitarian and human rights law is under strain, collective reflection and exchange are critical to sustaining and strengthening child protection outcomes. In response to these challenges, the 2026 Annual Meeting will provide a dedicated space to share evidence, practice, and innovation that can support more effective and resilient child protection responses. The meeting will retain its global focus, while centering realities and solutions emerging at national and sub-national levels."

Find the latest version of the agenda and session summaries—updated on a rolling basis—on the dedicated webpage HERE

Voices from the field

"From Sierra Leone to Colombia, Somalia and Afghanistan, every year, conflict affects the lives of tens of thousands of boys and girls.

They are forced to join army or armed movement, abducted, used and abused, fuelling wars that they have not created.

They are Yenny, Kabba, they are Khaled and Mohamed.

Here are some of their stories."

Children, Not Soldiers

"Twenty years ago, the world united to condemn and take action against the use of children in armed conflict.

Since then, over 130,000 boys and girls have been released as a result of Action Plans mandated by the UN Security Council aimed at ending and preventing the recruitment and use of children in conflict."

Rethinking conservation through elephants’ sense of time and memory

"Historically, conservation has mostly focused on numbers like population and habitat size. However, in the mid-2000s, scientists started to investigate animal emotions, even trauma, when considering conservation success. In a recent Mongabay podcast, Khatijah Rahmat, a geographer at the Max Planck Institute for the History of Science, shared her research examining how elephants perceive and navigate time, often differently than humans do, and what that means for conserving them."

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Monthly Roundup April 2026

May 3rd is World Press Freedom Day. The occupation has killed 363 journalists across Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, Iran, Yemen, and Syria in the 940 days since October 7, 2023.

Photos and stats from: Stopmurderingjournalists.com

Wear The Peace

The hardest part of making this collage was realizing how small we had to make the photos just to fit everything into the slides. Today, May

“A Credible List”: Recommendations for the Secretary-General’s 2026 Annual Report on Children and Armed Conflict

"Watchlist’s 36-page report makes eight recommendations for the listing or relisting of parties that have committed grave violations against children, 23 recommendations for further investigation to determine whether parties should be listed in the annexes of the 2026 report, and one recommendation to include a conflict setting as a “situation of concern.”"

Largest Ever Elephant Genome Study Reveals a Hidden Crisis — and a Path to Better Conservation

"The authors explained that maintaining the landscape and ensuring that elephants can move safely across countries and regions is an underappreciated aspect of conservation revealed by the new analysis."

“By identifying distinct population units and levels of gene flow, this research can guide more effective conservation strategies, including habitat management, corridor protection, and translocation decisions. In addition, genomic tools and data that we have generated can support wildlife forensics by helping to trace the origin of confiscated ivory, thereby strengthening efforts to combat illegal wildlife trade,” said Charles Masembe and Vincent Muwanika, evolutionary scientists at Makerere University in Uganda and co-authors of the study, in the press release.

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Monthly Roundup March 2026

‘I killed hundreds of people’: Meet the children forced to wage endless war in the DRC

“The children think they're doing the right thing by joining to protect their own community,” explains Katharina von Schroeder, a director of advocacy at Save the Children. “Also some of the armed groups work with youth to recruit. So they will send children that are already with them to convince their friends. That is, unfortunately, a very successful strategy.”

"This [reintegration] process has been made more difficult after severe cuts to aid by the Trump administration. USAID was the leading donor of humanitarian assistance in the DRC, but since around 83 per cent of the programmes were cut, this assistance has run thin. Children are also more likely to end up in armed groups due to the cuts; an absence of aid and educational programmes leaves children more liable to joining."

Europe’s first captive elephant sanctuary to open in Alentejo

"Set across 402 hectares between Vila Viçosa and Alandroal, the vast refuge will welcome its first residents – elephants from zoos and circuses across Europe – in early 2026. The initiative is led by the non-profit organisation Pangea, registered in Portugal and the UK, with support from local councils and national environmental authorities such as Directorate-General for Food and Veterinary (DGAV) and the Institute for Nature Conservation and Forests (ICNF)."

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Monthly Roundup February 2026

Repost from Exile International:

"Today is Red Hand Day—a global call to say enough. The red handprint represents resistance, protection, and a promise to stand with children affected by war.

Children should be holding books, not weapons.

Dreaming about their future, not fighting to survive.

Yet in war zones around the world, children are among the most vulnerable. Traffickers and armed groups exploit chaos—using fear, hunger, and false promises to pull children into lives they never chose. Many are stripped of their childhood, their safety, and their sense of home.

Girls face unique dangers, often subjected to abuse or forced into relationships meant to control and silence them. When conflict drags on and the world looks away, their suffering is hidden—but it does not stop.

Still, hope remains. Survivors are proving that healing is possible. With trauma care, education, and community support, former child soldiers are rediscovering what it means to be children again.

Draw or paint a red handprint on paper or your palm.

Take a photo holding up your hand in solidarity.

Share it on social media using #RedHandDay. "

Today is Red Hand Day—a global call to say enough. The red handprint represents resistance, protection, and a promise to stand with children

Today is Red Hand Day—a global call to say enough. The red handprint represents resistance, protection, and a promise to stand with children

Read Dallaire Institute's full statement HERE

Red Hand Day: Supporting Child Soldiers on the Path to Peace

"Even after the fighting has subsided, many communities in both countries continue to experience lasting consequences, including lost education, stalled socioeconomic development, and deep psychological trauma. The path to reintegration is long and difficult, as those once forced into armed groups grow into young adults who are too often marginalized and denied the chance to live full, stable lives within their communities."

"Peace begins with the youth, and opportunity is essential to sustaining it."

Former child soldier: "Don't leave these children alone!"

"On Red Hand Day, February 12th: The Child Soldiers Alliance demands asylum for children from war zones and an urgent reversal of the massive cuts to humanitarian aid."

Colombia Red Hand Day

"People cover a sheet in handprints at an event marking Red Hand Day, also known as the International Day against the Use of Child Soldiers, in Bogota, Colombia, where illegal armed groups recruit children, Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026."

Child soldiers are still a reality in South Sudan

"In South Sudan, children continue to be recruited and used in the country’s ongoing conflicts. A UN report details violations of children’s rights by both state and non-state actors and calls on the South Sudanese government to improve its protection efforts."

'Tour for Tusks' brings elephant conservation efforts to Florida

"Wildlife SOS, a global wildlife conservation and welfare organization that provides specialized veterinary care to wildlife and works to reduce the human-wildlife conflict, will debut its 2026 Tour for Tusks. The speaking tour is designed to educate, inspire and mobilize audiences to help secure a safer future for India’s elephants by removing them from the streets of India."

The best ways to see elephants without harming them

Here are a few examples of ethical wildlife tourism that allow you to see these majestic animals responsibly:

Visiting elephant sanctuaries for a genuine experience

Observing elephants in the wild: Responsible wildlife tours

How you can support elephant conservation:

Donating to elephant protection programmes

Raising awareness about ethical elephant tourism

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Monthly Roundup January 2026

Review of the June 2025 Security Council Open Debate on Children and Armed Conflict

Listen to Children Affected by Conflict – and Take Action

"Listen to children who are affected by armed conflict. Hear their stories, pay attention to their voices; their words are powerful and must help us shape the future they want. Let their messages inspire you. On behalf of all children whose voices have been silenced by violence and hostilities, whose stories have been erased by bombs, who have lost schools, families, and hope: take your responsibility and do the right thing. Protecting children in conflict is not simply a moral or political choice; it is a matter of international law. Violating children’s rights in an armed conflict may constitute war crimes."

Children have rights, children want peace: Listen, and take action. Prove It Matters.

Red Hand Day is coming up on February 12th.

Remembering Craig: Iconic super tusker and symbol of elephant conservation

"It is with immense sadness that IFAW and the global conservation community mark the passing of Craig, Kenya’s beloved super tusker. He was both a symbol of elephant conservation and a living embodiment of nature’s majesty. Today, the plains of Amboseli National Park sit quieter without him—beneath the gaze of Mount Kilimanjaro, across a landscape he graced for more than five decades."

"...Craig embodied the long-term commitment that is fundamental in conservation—a marathon rather than a sprint. His image, captured by countless photographers, helped shine a global spotlight on both the awe-inspiring beauty and the vulnerability of elephants. His survival into old age was a genuine victory for long-term, community-driven conservation."

Every year I proudly participate in #RideforHeart in memory of my Dad 💖 Since 2021, I have been raising funds through this campaign to support Heart & Stroke, a Canadian charity dedicated to beating heart disease and stroke and funding life-saving research and awareness efforts.

If you are able, please consider visiting https://heartandstroke.crowdchange.ca/127430/page/387528 and making a donation. Every contribution helps advance critical work that keeps families together.

Thank you for your support. I will continue this tradition because beating heart disease and stroke is something worth fighting for 💪

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Monthly Roundup November 2025

Putting the Pieces back Together: Centring Children and Their Protection in the Humanitarian Response in Gaza

"With the ceasefire in Gaza and the scale-up of humanitarian assistance, the Alliance for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action calls for children’s protection to be placed at the centre of the response.

This statement outlines urgent priorities to meet the needs of Gaza’s 1.1 million children — half of the population — who have endured loss, displacement, and trauma. It calls for child protection to be recognised and funded as a life-saving intervention, on par with other essential sectors.

Key priorities include:

Strengthening child protection systems and workforce capacity

Expanding mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS)

Supporting parents and caregivers

Ensuring child protection is a central and critical element of the response and also integrated and funded across all sectors

Grounded in humanitarian principles and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, this statement underscores the urgent need for a coordinated, adequately resourced child protection response to help children in Gaza rebuild their safety, dignity, and futures."

Preventing and Addressing Grave Violations Against Children During Armed Conflict in Domestic Law: Lessons from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Colombia, and Ukraine

Read the full report here: Preventing and Addressing Grave Violations Against Children During Armed Conflict in Domestic Law: Lessons from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Colombia, and Ukraine

"Adapted from the eponymous novel Allah is Not Obliged by Ahmadou Kourouma (Prix Renaudot 2000), the story follows Birahima, a 10-year-old boy who becomes a child soldier in West Africa (Guinea). After his mother’s death, Birahima sets out in search of his aunt, crossing several countries devastated by civil war. To survive in such chaos, he is recruited by various armed factions. Through his naïve, raw, and often ironic perspective, both the film and the novel denounce the horrors of war, the exploitation of children, and the absurdity of violence." Source: https://specialtouchstudios.com/en/production/allah-is-not-obliged-3/

Buy the book on Amazon

Naipoki and her baby boy Nsimba

Read the full story via Sheldrick Wildlife Trust HERE

New study finds that drones can be a valuable ally in elephant conservation

"New research involving Oxford University researchers has found that drones can be a valuable, non-invasive tool for observing elephant families and aiding long-term conservation efforts. This found that elephants can habituate remarkably quickly to drones, showing fewer signs of disturbance both during a single flight and after repeated exposures."

I will be taking a BREAK this December. Wishing everyone a safe and happy holiday season! I will resume the Monthly Roundup in the new year at the end of January 2026.

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Monthly Roundup October 2025

Crisis in Sudan: What is happening and how to help

Sudan now represents the largest recorded and fastest displacement crisis in the world. It is also the largest humanitarian crisis ever recorded.

Crisis Watch:

Darfur: IRC warns civilians trapped in or fleeing El Fasher risk being killed as arrivals in Tawila remain alarmingly low

Crisis in Gaza: What to know and how to help

Without a durable end to hostilities and guaranteed humanitarian access across Gaza, millions of civilians will remain at risk.

6 ways you can support Palestinians in Gaza

1) Connect with your member of Congress.

2) Bring attention to what's happening in Gaza.  

3) Learn more about Gaza and lift up Palestinian voices. 

4) Hold corporations accountable for their role in violating the rights of Palestinians in Gaza. 

5) Join us in working to dismantle Israeli apartheid. 

6) Make a gift.  

South Sudan frees child soldiers, pledges education over army

"South Sudan’s efforts to end the recruitment of child soldiers appear to be paying off. According to the UN Mission in South Sudan, UNMISS, some children have just been released by the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF)."

"Officials from Disarmament, Demobilisation, and Reintegration (DDR) conducted a registration and verification processes required to facilitate the children's transition back to civilian life. And they’ll keep watching to make sure no children return to combat."

Bangladesh to reintroduce captive elephants to the wild

"Bangladesh has embarked on an ambitious plan to end the centuries-old practice of keeping elephants in captivity. The government has begun retrieving privately owned elephants and aims to rehabilitate them in the wild. The initiative follows a 2024 High Court order banning cruelty to wildlife and illegal use of animals for labor or entertainment."

"The project will survey elephant populations, buy animals from owners, and prepare forest sites for rewilding. Two potential sanctuaries — Rema-Kalenga and Chunati — are under review."

"If successful, Bangladesh’s experiment could become a model for other Asian nations struggling to reconcile tradition with the ethics of conservation."

How we're helping save Vietnam's extremely rare forest elephants

"Humane World for Animals has been working broadly to support elephant conservation in the country—from helping develop the National Elephant Action Plan and introducing scientific monitoring tools, to supporting community engagement and awareness initiatives—all aimed at securing a future for these elephants."

"We're also working with the local government on a series of coordinated, science-based, humane and elephant-centered interventions in alignment with the Viet Nam Elephant Conservation Action Plan."

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Monthly Roundup September 2025

Kenya turns to drones in elephant conservation

"In Kenya, a new tech-driven solution is changing how farmers and elephants coexist. For years, elephants raiding farms meant broken fences, destroyed crops, and dangerous confrontations. Now, drones equipped with thermal cameras and lights are giving communities an early warning system, spotting elephants at night and steering them away before damage occurs."

Elephant Herpesvirus Vaccine Trial Yields Breakthrough Results, Confirms Safety

"In a groundbreaking advancement for wildlife conservation and veterinary medicine, researchers have achieved a pioneering milestone by developing the world’s first vaccine designed to combat elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus (EEHV). EEHV represents a formidable threat as a leading cause of mortality among young Asian elephants, both in captivity and the wild."

Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory

Our damning findings must serve as a wake-up call to the international community: this is genocide. It must stop now.

-Agnès Callamard, Secretary General of Amnesty International

Take Action NOW!

Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory

Our damning findings must serve as a wake-up call to the international community: this is genocide. It must stop now.Agnès Callamard, Secret

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Monthly Roundup August 2025

“Ongoing armed conflicts in Gaza, Sudan and other areas are a sombre reminder of the importance of humanitarian assistance—and the risks these workers take every day. In 2024, 383 humanitarian workers in 27 countries were killed—a 23% increase from the previous record-high death toll in 2023 and triple that of 2022. In addition, 125 humanitarian workers were kidnapped and more than 300 were wounded last year. Sadly, 2025 is on track to be worse."

“For the second consecutive year, the theme of ‘Act for Humanity’ speaks to how we must do more to address increasing violations of international humanitarian law and to protect humanitarian workers and the civilians they are trying to help."

“More than 300 million people around the world are in need of humanitarian assistance this year. In the face of such a staggering number, humanitarian workers are more crucial than ever to provide not only life-saving assistance, but to offer dignity and hope during times of despair."

Read the full statement on World Humanitarian Day HERE

World Elephant Day: Stories of conservation progress

"In Uganda, wildlife authorities have put up nearly 23 kilometers (14 miles) of electric fencing near Queen Elizabeth National Park. Powered by solar panels, it delivers a zap meant to keep elephants at bay. There’s also a barrier of “porcupine” wire that sticks out to further discourage clever elephants who figured out their tusks don’t conduct electricity and would use them to snap the fence wire and help themselves to a buffet on the other side. A survey found the fence has been effective: nearly 90% of local respondents said crop-raiding had ended.

Elephants in Nepal’s eastern border with India also quickly learned that using their tusks could destroy electric fences laid by the government, so villagers adapted. They switched their crops, from elephant favorites like maize, to ones the pachyderms don’t like, including tea, bay leaves and lemons. Local conservationists also helped more residents gain access to government compensation for crop damage, allowing farmers to stay inside when elephants turned up, instead of putting themselves and the massive mammals in harm’s way.

In southern India, authorities in a tea-plantation town surrounded by forests and wildlife, including elephants, have invested in a virtual fence: a series of posts with solar-powered sensors. When the sensors detect moving animals in their vicinity, they trigger flashing lights and a sharp alarm meant to scare off elephants and alert local people of potential danger."

Supporting wildlife-friendly infrastructure to help Asian elephants

"Launched In August 2023, WWF’s "Elly Allies" initiative has been helping to build momentum across elephant range countries in Southeast Asia and China to prioritize sustainable and wildlife-friendly infrastructure, among other elephant conservation priorities."

"WWF is urging more governments, planners, funders and communities to become "Elly Allies" and consider sustainable infrastructure so we can better protect Asian elephants and ensure they can move safely through these shared landscapes."

Puppets, Stories, and Healing: Empowering Palestinian Children through Creative Expression

"Over the past few months, groups of children have gathered in circles, telling stories with small handmade puppets stitched with memory, culture, and quiet resilience. These puppets allow children to tell stories, stories that are difficult to speak aloud. The children who gather around them live under the ongoing reality of occupation. Some have witnessed settler attacks, military presence near their schools, or fear within their families. Others carry quieter burdens, memories they can’t quite explain, and fears they don’t yet have words for."

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Monthly Roundup July 2025

The blockade of Gaza must end.

UN-led humanitarian aid must be immediately restored.

TAKE ACTION NOW

Also check out Funds for Gaza for a list of rotating fundraisers in support of Gazans.

fundsforgaza | Instagram | Linktree

A rotating list of fundraisers for Gazans

Advocacy Resource Pack: Positioning Child Protection in Humanitarian Action Amid Funding Cuts, Shifting Priorities, and Humanitarian Reform

"This Advocacy Resource Pack has been developed by the Alliance for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action to support members in advocating for child protection amid funding cuts, shifting priorities, and humanitarian reform. It is a live document and regularly updated to reflect the evolving context. The information provided is based upon ongoing analysis of the situation and critical information shared by our members and partners."

Child soldier: Lionel's story

"Lionel was invited to join a Peace Club, where he learned the importance of tolerance, human rights and, most importantly, forgiveness. Staff teams had to be patient and persistent. For many of these children, forgiving their enemies took a year or more. But through talks, music, dance and play, the children grew more at ease with one another. 

They realized they weren’t really opponents. They were all victims of war. And they all wanted a peaceful future. World Vision equipped and emboldened the children to be advocates for peace, laying the groundwork for a different tomorrow."

"Where the Forest Roars is a documentary film that delves into the gripping conflict between humans and wild Asian elephants along the Eastern Himalaya in India."

World Ranger Day 2025: New CITES documentary short film celebrates the rangers conserving Ghana’s wildlife

"Guardians of Giants brings viewers into the world of Mole’s rangers – from early morning briefings, to long patrols across rugged and hot terrain. The film captures the courage, discipline and unwavering dedication of rangers on the frontlines of conservation. "

Remembering Raha, 2022 - 2025

"[W]hile Raha’s story was overshadowed by a great setback that proved impossible to overcome, that is not what defined her life. Truly, Raha’s life was defined by the meaning of her name in Swahili — joy."

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Monthly Roundup June 2025

Protection of Children from the Ground Up - Enhancing Localised Approaches in Conflict and Crises

From the 3rd to the 5th of June, 841 participants from across the globe—including practitioners, donors, academics, policymakers, youth and child advocates, and community leaders—came together for the 2025 Annual Meeting for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action, hosted by the Alliance for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action.

2025 Annual Meeting for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action

The 2025 Annual Meeting included 3 days dedicated to the meeting theme “Protection of Children from the Ground Up - Enhancing Localised Appr

Keeping the spotlight on Africa’s child soldiers

"As violence and instability rise, African countries must reaffirm their commitment to protecting children and support DDR initiatives."

"Globally, in 2021 alone, 6 310 children were drawn into conflict zones, with Africa accounting for 40% of the global child soldier population. And from 2005-22, over 105 000 children were documented as recruited by armed forces and non-state actors in conflict zones worldwide."

Myanmar: Stop Recruitment, Use of Child Soldiers

"The Myanmar military’s recruitment and use of child soldiers has surged since the 2021 coup, including a significant number recruited after the junta enacted a conscription law in February 2024, Human Rights Watch said today. On June 19, 2025, the United Nations Secretary-General reported that the UN had verified 2,138 grave violations against children in armed conflict in Myanmar in 2024, including recruitment of children, with about 1,200 additional violations pending verification."

Bangladesh plans new ‘protected area’ for elephants in its conflict-prone northeast

"In response to rising human-elephant conflicts, Bangladesh is planning to declare the elephant habitats in its northeastern parts a protected area for the species."

Collaboration, Capacity-Building and Conservation in East Africa: Rangers Trained on Monitoring the Illegal Killing of Elephants

"The initiative brought together wildlife rangers from five East African elephant range States, including Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda and the United Republic of Tanzania. Its primary purpose was to strengthen the skills and knowledge of rangers in combating wildlife crime, with a specific emphasis on elephant mortality data collection and reporting as well as introducing them to crime scene management techniques."

IFAW: Room to Roam

"Room to Roam is an ambitious and urgent vision for Africa’s surviving savannah elephants and the human communities with which they share the land and its resources. Backed by 20 years of science and engagement with local communities, Room to Roam is securing and connecting habitats, creating safe passages for wildlife to travel freely through their home ranges in East and southern Africa. The positive outcomes of this far-reaching initiative will be greater biodiversity, natural resilience to climate change, and a future where animals and people can coexist and thrive."

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Monthly Roundup May 2025

2018-2025: from the Global Coalition for Reintegration of Child Soldiers to the Nairobi Process and the Financing Innovation Forum

Release of new publication by the Office of the SRSG for Children and Armed Conflict HERE

"Children are resilient. Children are agents of change and peace. There is no more strategic and economically beneficial way to invest in long-term peace than providing timely, adequate, predictable and sustainable reintegration support to children formerly associated with armed forces and armed groups. These children are a strategic cohort for long-term peace and security. If we succeed in an annual doubling of children released and reintegrated and halving those recruited, we will soon significantly reduce the use and abuse of children for, by and in armed conflict,” concluded Ms. Virginia Gamba."

Championing Borneo’s gentle giants: The woman behind Sabah’s elephant conservation

"Her passion gave rise to Seratu Aatai – meaning “united in heart” in the local Sungai language – the only NGO in Sabah dedicated exclusively to Bornean elephant conservation. Founded in 2018, the group now works closely with communities in the Lower Kinabatangan region, over 300 kilometres from Kota Kinabalu, where the rainforest still supports orangutans, sun bears and the endangered proboscis monkey."

In Support of Heart and Stroke Canada

Did you know that every five minutes, someone in Canada dies from heart disease, stroke, and vascular cognitive impairment?

More than 3.5 million people across Canada of all ages, ethnicities and genders are living with these conditions, but we are on the verge of significant breakthroughs and YOUR donation can help make them happen.

That’s why I’m fundraising for the 5th year in the 2025 Heart & Stroke Ride for Heart throughout the month of June, by getting active in support of critical heart disease and stroke research.

You can make a difference, too! By donating, you’re funding the next big breakthrough, fueling the scientific discovery and collaborations needed to save lives. All donations will be matched until the end of June - this means 2x the impact!

Please donate and help us put Heart & Stroke research on the fast track. Together, we’ll beat heart disease and stroke - every beat counts.

Donate HERE

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Monthly Roundup April 2025

Drawing on input from over 250 child protection practitioners in 55 countries, and insights from five leading child protection agencies, this new brief on the "Global Impact of Humanitarian Funding Cuts on Children and Their Protection in Humanitarian Contexts" presents stark evidence of the catastrophic consequences that ongoing funding cuts are having on children’s safety and well-being. Services are being suspended, frontline staff reduced, and protection systems dismantled—leaving millions of children at increased risk of abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and even death.

Key Findings Include:

Over 1.1 million children are directly affected by suspended child protection programmes in more than 23 countries.

Services are being shut down, frontline staff reduced, and national protection systems dismantled.

Budget cuts across all sectors are compounding risks of abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and even death.

Agencies report growing challenges in meeting the Child Protection Minimum Standards, with a rapidly shrinking workforce and limited resources.

This is a critical call to action. The briefing note, along with key advocacy messages and a communications pack, is now available to support your work with donors, governments, and humanitarian leadership.

👉 Read the Briefing Note 📣 Download the Communications Pack HERE

2025 Annual Meeting for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action

3rd to 5th June | Zoom | Protection of Children from the Ground Up - Enhancing Localised Approaches in Conflict and Crises

Register HERE

I was a child soldier – here’s what it’ll take to protect young lives in conflict zones

Six ways to protect children in conflict zones:

Cut arm sales to conflict regions

Provide life-saving essentials

Continuous education during conflict

Work with local communities and leaders

Ex-child soldiers as part of disarmament and reintegration

Listen to children’s voices

Finland strengthens its commitment to reparative justice for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence and former child soldiers

"The Trust Fund for Victims at the ICC contributes to fulfil the principles of reparative justice established in the Rome Statute by implementing measures that recognise and redress the harm caused by genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and crimes of aggression on victims and their families."

Elephant Emergency: A Conservationist’s Plan To Save The Gentle Giants

"Dr. Farina Othman recently won a Whitley Award by the Whitley Fund for Nature, a UK nature charity organisation, for her work in conserving a type of local elephant species."

"According to a report by CNN, Farina has devised a plan to connect the elephant’s habitats by building corridors of wild trees through palm oil plantations."

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Monthly Roundup March 2025

End Child Soldiering is proud to annnounce that the third Opoka Award will be going to the Dallaire Institute for their outstanding work.

End Child Soldiering is a charity and corporation under the laws of Montana as a 501(c)(3) that supports efforts to end the use of children as soldiers and rehabilitate those that have been.

“Child soldiering is a horrific violation of children’s rights and must be stopped. We cannot turn a blind eye to the use of children as soldiers and must work tirelessly to protect their childhood and future.”

Learn more about the Grassroots Reconciliation Group HERE

‘Shadows into Light’

New book by BCSSW's Theresa Betancourt follows as a generation of former child soldiers comes of age

Poems in Passage

"In February 2025, Poems in Passage returns to TTC buses, streetcars, and trains across Toronto, featuring Margaret Atwood in support of War Child. This initiative transforms daily commutes into moments of reflection through poetry from global icons and emerging voices.

Margaret’s contribution, The Disasters of War: A Sequel (excerpt) speaks to the senselessness of war and will be seen alongside other globally recognized writers including Rupi Kaur, and Mustafa, as well as emerging local voices."

Save Elephant Foundation on Instagram: "From Africa to Asia: A Journey of Conservation and Creativity 🐘✨ These elephant figurines come all

517 likes, 14 comments - saveelephantfoundation on March 13, 2025: "From Africa to Asia: A Journey of Conservation and Creativity 🐘✨ These

From Africa to Asia: A Journey of Conservation and Creativity

"These elephant figurines come all the way from Kenya, crafted from discarded flip-flops collected from beaches across different regions. They are the work of @oceansole a nonprofit organization in Africa dedicated to protecting marine environments and safeguarding whales. Their mission began with a simple yet powerful idea—cleaning up every piece of trash left behind by tourists on the shores and transforming it into recycled products. The proceeds from these creations support internationally recognized projects that help animals and the environment.

This particular elephant is named Rainbow Jokia, inspired by our beloved elephant Jokia, whose rescue story has touched hearts worldwide. The largest elephant figurine in this collection was made from an incredible 1,100 pairs of recycled flip-flops, carefully assembled to bring it to life.

By creating these vibrant elephants from waste collected on beaches, we are not only preventing pollution from harming marine life but also supporting local artisans in Kenya by providing sustainable jobs. This project is expanding to other countries, employing skilled hands from local communities, and making a meaningful impact on both people and wildlife.

These handcrafted elephants are more than just art—they represent kindness, environmental awareness, and a commitment to protecting both our oceans and the magnificent elephants of the land."

🐘

Learn more about the project HERE

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Monthly Roundup February 2025

🇨🇦 Statement on International Day Against the Use of Child Soldiers

Aid groups ask Canada to prevent child soldiers by rallying G7 heads around education

“Education is a fundamental pillar of violence prevention within the global security strategies of the international community,” Dallaire says.

"Every year, February 12th — Red Hand Day — stands as a global reminder that children should never be used as soldiers. It is a day to amplify their voices, demand justice, and declare together:

No child should be forced to fight. No child should be trafficked into war. No child should bear the scars of violence they did not create."

"The Children Associated with Armed Forces and Armed Groups (CAAFAG) Task Force and their members stand together for Red Hand Day, calling for urgent, collective action to prevent the recruitment and use of children in armed conflict, support their release, and address their recovery and reintegration needs."

In simple words: ‘End the recruitment and use of children in armed conflict. Children must always be protected!’

This Red Hand Day, explore key tools and guidance to design and implement programmes for the prevention, release, and reintegration of CAAFAG HERE

"There is hope. Around the world, organizations, activists, and survivors are fighting for their freedom. Those who have escaped captivity are learning to heal, to dream again. With trauma care, education, and reintegration programs, former child soldiers are reclaiming their lives. But the fight isn’t over. Their voices must be heard. Their stories must be told. And that’s where you come in."

Dallaire Institute’s African Centre of Excellence Commemorates the International Day Against the Use of Child Soldiers (Red Hand Day) with Conference

The conference, which took place in Kigali, Rwanda, on February 19th & 20th, convened policymakers, subject matter experts, youth, and practitioners from civil society organizations, international organizations, and the regional members of security sector institutions.

Red Hand Day 2025: Historical Perspectives on Child Soldiers

"Between 2005 and 2022, more than 105,000 children are estimated to have been recruited and used in armed conflict around the world. Today, under-eighteens are involved in contemporary conflicts in Ukraine, Palestine, Syria, Ethiopia and elsewhere, navigating global norms of adulthood as they collide with local realities of militarism, resistance and survival."

"Historical research helps to reveal the longer-term structural, cultural and political factors that shape both children’s military recruitment and responses to it from local and international communities, as well as its relationship to other forms of child labour exploitation and youth violence. As we turn our attention to mark 2025’s Red Hand Day, the daily experiences of violence and instability plaguing children and adults alike around the world reminds us of the historically contingent realities that affect children’s participation in armed conflict."

How child soldiers heal after the trauma of war

Shadows into Light looks at the mental health of Sierra Leone’s former child soldiers.

Learn more here: A Life Among Elephants

Africa’s elephants have been in dramatic decline for 50 years. What can be done to save them – new study

"African elephants have experienced serious losses in contemporary times (between 1964 and 2016). The average population trend for African savanna elephants was a decline of 70%. Forest elephant populations declined by over 90%. While declines in the species had been widely recognised, understanding of the overall magnitude and regional context was lacking until now."

Fourth Asian Elephant Range States meeting concludes with the launch of declaration for Asian elephant conservation

"Government representatives from 13 Asian elephant range countries, along with members of the IUCN Species Survival Commission Asian Elephant Specialist Group (AsESG) and the Center for Species Survival (CSS) Asian Elephant, convened for the Fourth Asian Elephant Range States Meeting, held in Siem Reap, Cambodia, from 5-7 February 2025."

"The meeting concluded with the launch of the 2025 Siem Reap Declaration for Asian Elephant Conservation, reaffirming the commitment of participating countries to continued regional collaboration. Expanding on the foundation of the 2022 Kathmandu Declaration, this new Declaration provides a comprehensive framework for range-wide conservation efforts, ensuring the long-term protection of wild elephant populations and their habitats across Asia. Access the Seam Reap Declaration here."

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Monthly Roundup January 2025

Urgent Appeal for the Prioritizing the Protection of Children Amidst Escalating Conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

"The Dallaire Institute calls on all the parties to the conflict to respect international law, ensure the full protection of all civilians, and provide proactive measures and protection to the children affected by the armed conflict in the east of the country."

Source: Peace Direct

A Look Back at Watchlist on Children and Armed Conflict in 2024

Together, let’s take a look back at key moments for Watchlist and for the UN’s Children and Armed Conflict (CAAC) agenda in 2024.

Implementing the ‘Children and Armed Conflict’ Agenda: Analyzing Data on Trends, Enabling Factors, and Persistent Challenges in Situations with Listed Parties

The analysis shows that the below factors play a role in shaping trends in grave violations:

Conflict and peace process dynamics. Levels of grave violations often ebb and flow over time as the scale and severity of armed conflicts fluctuate.

Third-party supporters. Third-party governments—including the 5 Permanent Members of the UNSC—have offered robust security support to some of the worst perpetrators of grave violations.

Legal accountability. The scale of ‘trigger’ violations is lower in contexts where the International Criminal Court (ICC) has jurisdiction, compared with contexts for which the ICC lacks jurisdiction.

Local civil society activities. In country contexts with the lowest levels of civil society participation, States exhibit a greater propensity to perpetrate ‘trigger’ violations. Conversely, States on the higher end of the civil society participation spectrum exhibit a lower propensity to perpetrate ‘trigger’ violations.

The report includes key recommendations related to: 1) elevating visibility for, and fortifying the credibility of, the CAAC agenda; 2) combatting impunity for grave violations; 3) deepening understanding of the drivers of grave violations; and 4) bolstering coordination among the varied actors advocating for and implementing the CAAC agenda.

2024 IN REVEW: 10 positive outcomes for children this year

1.     Sierra Leone bans child marriage following campaign by girls and Save the Children

2.     The Gambia upholds ban of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)

3. Children participate in G20 for the first time in its 25-year history

4.     Cobalt mines and catch up clubs in the Democratic Republic of Congo

5.     Community health workers cycle to tackle malaria in Cote d’Ivoire

6.     Laos becomes first country in Southeast Asia to ban corporal punishment

7.     Vanuatu teen activist at the International Court of Justice (ICJ)

8.     World record set at conference to end violence against children

9.         Children in southern Malawi better equipped against climate-aggravated health risks

10.      Deliveries by drone make childbirth safer for refugees in Rwanda

Amazing artivism initiatives to inspire you!

"The arts have the power to touch and move people in ways that information delivered in traditional ways cannot. When art is integrated into activism, the results are tremendous."

Sri Lanka plans elephant corridors to curb human - elephant conflict

"Sri Lanka is planning to establish five elephant coordiors in its north-central province to reduce human-elephant conflicts, state media reported on Sunday."

Keeping the spotlight on Africa’s child soldiers

"To safeguard children, child protection systems must be strengthened at all levels of government and society. National laws prohibiting the recruitment of child soldiers must be prioritised across Africa. High-risk countries must provide comprehensive services for former youth fighters, and help local communities to effectively reintegrate former child soldiers and prevent their re-enlistment."

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Monthly Roundup November 2024

Haiti’s gangs are recruiting child soldiers, rights group says

"Hundreds, if not thousands, of children “driven by hunger and poverty” have in recent months joined gangs and were forced to commit criminal acts ranging from extortion and looting to killing and kidnapping, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said in a report published on Wednesday."

Haiti’s gangs are recruiting child soldiers, rights group says

Boys and girls driven by hunger into gangs face abuse and forced into criminal activities, Human Rights Watch warns.

Gang-related child soldier recruitment in Haiti surges over past years

"Within the Haitian capital, Port-Au-Prince, it is estimated that 1.2 million children are subject to the threat of armed violence, and 25 percent of all displaced persons in the country live in dire conditions that potentially subject them to armed violence. “Children in Haiti are trapped in a vicious cycle—recruited into the very armed groups that are fueling their desperation, and the numbers are growing,” stated UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell in the report."

Researchers analyze DNA from dung to save Laos elephants

"[C]onservationists are hoping DNA analysis of elephants' dung will help them track both captive and wild tuskers, so they can secure a healthy genetic pool and craft an effective breeding plan to protect the species."

On Hiatus until January 2025