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on the ground, we can take away
the tactical and strategic advan-
tages that those who currently
recruit and use children possess
due to our lack of preparation.
The Vancouver Principles are a set
of non-binding pledges that take a
more assertive stance on preven-
ting child recruitment in the con-
text of peacekeeping operations,
specifically with regards to early
warning and the active prevention
of recruitment. They also aim to
put forth political commitments by
member states regarding training,
operational planning, and the
conduct of the forces they deploy.
Operationalizing the Vancouver
Principles can include developing
rules of engagement tailored to
areas of operations where the re-
cruitment and use of children as
soldiers are known to be present; soldiers; tasking intelligence assets national governments to ensure
conducting child protection trai- to analyze child recruitment pat- they are putting in place training,
ning for military and police focal terns and linkages; adjusting pa- doctrine and policy changes that
points and dedicated child pro- trol base locations and patrol rou- will be their own responsibility to
tection advisors; developing ai- tes to deter exploitation of at-risk take ownership of and implement.
de-memoires and scenario-based children; pro-actively liaising with
training on interacting with child schools and orphanages at risk of
attack and child abduction; buil-
ding bridges with community-ba-
sed service providers to facilitate
access for child soldiers and at-risk
children to needed resources, and
deploying deterrent forces when
presented with credible informa-
tion of imminent threat to children.
The Vancouver Principles will
contribute to the overall effecti-
veness of UN peacekeeping but
require a commitment by tro-
op contributing nations, both
police and military personnel, Dr. Shelly Whitman
to implementation for mea- Executive Director of the Romeo
ningful change. As a result, the Dallaire Child Soldiers Initiative
drafting of Implementation Gui-
dance on the Vancouver Princi-
ples has begun, and it is hoped
will be completed by June 2019.
This guidance will form the basis
cipo.laura.89
to instruct and give inspiration for

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