State Secretary Anne F. Stenhammer will participate in the international conference Free Children from War in Paris on Monday 5 February.

The aim of the conference is to agree on principles for improving the effectiveness of efforts to prevent the recruitment of child soldiers, and for protecting and reintegrating former child soldiers. Ms Stenhammer will take part in a panel debate on freeing and reintegrating children who have participated in armed conflicts.

“It is important that children who have been soldiers are given an opportunity to become a part of society again. Everyone must respect international norms in this area. We also have to deal with factors in society that prevent the reintegration of child soldiers, and we have to take a long-term, comprehensive approach in doing so,” says Ms Stenhammer.

The Executive Director of UNICEF, the President of the World Bank, the UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, and a number of government and NGO representatives will attend the conference, which is being arranged jointly by the French Government and UNICEF.

Contact person: Ambassador for Children Ragne Birte Lund, tel. +47 97 18 85 97.