Take Action Now!

Call Your Senators Today and Urge them to Support A Critically Important Child Soldiers Bill

Millions of children worldwide have their childhoods stolen and are forced to become child soldiers.  Child soldiers endure horrible abuse- they are physically exerted beyond their bodies’ capabilities, they are denied food and water, they are subject to physical and emotional torture, as well as rape and sexual exploitation.  They suffer disease, malnutrition and injuries from training and battle. You can help stop this practice by voicing your support for the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act, specifically Title IV - the Child Soldier Prevention Act.  Sadly, the fate of this bill hangs in balance.

Here’s what you can do now to help:

Call Your Senators and ask them to stop the practice of child soldiers by supporting the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA) and the Child Soldiers Prevention Act (S.3061).  Ask your Senators to urge Senators Reid and Durbin to bring this bill to the floor for a vote.  Call TODAY, as urgent action is needed to pass this bill as soon as the Senate resumes session on September 8^th! The TVPRA will

• 1. Restrict U.S. military assistance to governments who do not take the necessary steps to demobilize and halt the recruitment of child soldiers so that U.S. taxpayer dollars are not funding the epidemic.
• 2. Provide incentives to countries in order to put an end to their reliance on child soldiers.

Here’s what you can say:

"My name is ________and I am calling from ________ to urge Senator ________ to speak personally to Majority Leader, Harry Reid, and Majority Whip, Dick Durbin, to urge them to bring the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act and Child Soldiers Prevention Act to a vote."

Please call the U.S. Capitol Switchboard now at 202-224-3121, and ask to be connected to your Senator’s office.

For more information on advocacy surrounding the TVPRA and the Child Soldiers Prevention Act, click here to visit World Vision or here to visit Amnesty USA’s webpage on child soldiers, two of the leaders in advocacy on this subject.

To read about children in conflict, click here to visit the GAC Children in Conflict issue page

For More Information Contact: Leila Nimatallah, Policy Director, Global Action for Children, (202) 589-0808 X223.

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