Thanks to all of those who joined us on Oct 10th for an evening of rigorous debate and insight from two
leading humanitarians!
The Event:
Right now, a quarter of a million children are taking part in armed conflicts around the world. These girls and boys are often recruited by force and used by armed groups as cheap and expendable weapons of war, sex slaves and a labour force to sustain the conflict. To date, the international community’s response has largely been reactive, focusing on post-conflict rehabilitation. Yet, the recruitment of children has not slowed.
Join us for a special presentation in Halifax of two great Canadian humanitarians Lt. General Romeo Dallaire (ret’d) and Dr. James Orbinski. These internationally renowned leaders will discuss the intersection between humanitarian work and the security sector and how these two spheres can collaborate to better protect children from harm. A special screening of excerpts from the documentary Fight Like Soldiers Die Like Children, and spoken word poetry by Halifax poet laureate, El Jones will inform and enhance the presentation.
To purchase tickets please click here!
The Speakers:
Photo by Peter Bregg
LGen. Roméo A. Dallaire (ret’d) was first exposed to the use of child soldiers during the 1994 Rwandan genocide (where he served as Force Commander of the UN mission). He subsequently committed the rest of his life to ending the use of children in armed conflict. He founded The Roméo Dallaire Child
Soldiers Initiative, at Dalhousie University, to break new ground in halting this atrocity. The Initiative partners with military, police and peacekeeping forces, equipping them with tools to prevent the recruitment of child
soldiers.
Photo by: Steve Simon
Dr. James Orbinski is a globally recognized humanitarian practitioner and advocate, and a leading scholar in global health. Dr. Orbinski served as
international president for Médecins Sans Frontières / Doctors Without
Borders (MSF), from 1998 to 2001, and accepted the accepted the Nobel Peace Prize awarded to MSF in 1999 for its pioneering approach to medical
humanitarianism, and most especially for its approach to witnessing. In 2004, Dr. Orbinski co-founded Dignitas International, a hybrid academic Non-Governmental Organization that is now a leading organization in the development of solutions for global health.
Drawing on their vast experiences, General Roméo Dallaire and Stephen Lewis enter into a dialogue about the issues that they have committed their lives to: the eradication of the use of child soldiers and stopping the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Africa.
All of us at the Initiative wish to thank our allies, donors, partners and friends for having assisted our work throughout the past year. Our efforts would not be possible without your ongoing support.