Fighting for the brighter future of children

 The organization was founded by LGen Roméo Dallaire (Ret’d) in 2007. General Dallaire first experienced the issue of child soldiers as the Force Commander of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda during the 1994 genocide. During this time, General Dallaire realized that he and his troops were ill prepared to face them.

The Dallaire Initiative wants to bring the perspective of the security sector to the issue of child soldiery, while equipping them with the training and tools to prevent the recruitment and use of child soldiers worldwide. Through this we hope to build a more holistic, prevention oriented approach to the issue of child soldiers that complements current efforts while providing innovative solutions.

Vision

A world where the recruitment and use of children as weapons of war is unthinkable

Mission

Progressively ending the recruitment and use of child soldiers.

Our Impact

research
  • We are a key member of the Paris Principles Steering Group on CAAC;
  • We collaborated with the International Criminal Court to create its first ever Policy on Children for the Office of the Chief Prosecutor;
  • We deployed the first ever Child Protection Advisor to an African Union-led peacekeeping mission in Somalia;
  • We advocated for and contributed to the first ever Joint Doctrine Note in the world on child soldiers with the Canadian Armed Forces and were included as a key element in Canada’s Defence Policy – Strong, Secure and Engaged – released in 2017;
  • We co-drafted and led the creation of the Vancouver Principles on Peacekeeping and the Prevention of the Recruitment and Use of Child Soldiers, launched at the United Nations Peacekeeping Defence Ministerial in November 2017.
  • Our work in research and curriculum development has resulted in world renowned training material for the security sector that has been referenced by NATO, the UN, and the African Union;
  • We have contributed to the drafting of two UN Security Council Resolutions on Children in Armed Conflict and the first NATO Standard Operating Procedure on Children in Armed Conflict;
  • Our training programs have been delivered to over 4,500 participants from over 55 countries;
  • We have signed MoUs with 4 countries to implement our training integration programs;
  • We have created more than 56 publications that have led to new dialogue, understandings and approaches to the subject of Children and Armed Conflict (CAAC);
  • We are a key member of the Paris Principles Steering Group on CAAC.