Raise Awareness

Raise people’s awareness, and then help them speak out on the issue of child soldiers.

Background
Raising other people's awareness of an issue is a first step to creating change. In fact, many countries that have addressed human-rights issues have done so ONLY because their citizens have voiced their concerns.

Take Action
An information day or campaign on child soldiers can have many different components. It can include:

• Information tables with posters, brochures, and reports on child soldiers.
• Artwork created on the theme of child soldiers.
• Videos on child soldiers.
• Debates on topics related to child soldiers, such as whether or not people under age 18 should be recruited for military service.
• Performances/staged readings of The Voices of Child Soldiers.
• Petitions on issues relating to child soldiers, such as ratification of the Optional Protocol, small arms, illicit trade in natural resources, or recruitment age.
• Presentations on the results of a quiz or opinion poll.
• Representatives from NGOs working to help child soldiers.