That would respond to a direct appeal by the United Nations for the Mali mission. Canadian soldiers could well face the very grim prospect of dealing with determined and hardened fighters, including child soldiers, in a way that could become challenging for the military and for a Canadian public. The Dallaire Initiative, a global partnership housed at Dalhousie University, works to prevent the use of child soldiers worldwide. It raised concerns after finding child soldiers locked up in adult jails, denied access to family members and legal advice. “At the same time there were pro-government militias who were recruiting child soldiers,” said Gaëtan Mootoo, Amnesty International’s researcher for West Africa.

Source: thestar November 26, 2016 11:02 UTC