Training

The Dallaire Initiative provides training to security sector personnel on preventing the use and recruitment of children by armed groups, by partnering with national security actors and regional organizations. Security sector actors are often the first point of contact for child soldiers; our training is designed to increase the knowledge and affect the attitudes and behaviours of trainees, and to give them the capacity to identify and counteract recruitment tactics and better protect children at risk.

Core Competencies

Currently, more than 10 peace operations (UN and AU) are being conducted in countries where child soldiers are being recruited and used, however no individual country or regional organisation has yet developed coherent policies or military and police doctrine for dealing with child soldiers during complex peace operations. Widespread standardized training for security sector actors is one crucial way to address this lack of preparedness. In 2013 the Dallaire Initiative developed a set of Core Competencies for training of security sector actors on this issue. These guide our online and face to face trainings.

Updated Handbook

Based on the Core Competencies, the Dallaire Initiative launched its second edition of Child Soldiers: A Handbook for Security Sector Actors on February 12 2014, the International Day Against the Use of Child Soldiers. This handbook, available in French and English, provides knowledge and tools for security sector actors to better prepare for interactions with child soldiers in conflict situations. Look for a link to the full PDF version.

E-Learning

In partnership with the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), the Dallaire Initiative will be launching an e-learning course on the prevention of the use and recruitment of child soldiers. The primary audience of the training course will be military and police personnel involved in peace operations in conflict and post-conflict environments. Please look back in spring of 2014 for updated on the course launch.

Child Soldiers: A Handbook for Security Sector Actors

“Child Soldiers: A Handbook for Security Sector Actors”

The Dallaire Initiative launched its second edition of Child Soldiers: A Handbook for Security Sector Actors on February 12th 2014, the International Day Against the Use of Child Soldiers. This handbook, available in French and English, provides knowledge and tools for security sector actors to better prepare for interactions with child soldiers in conflict situations.

Second Edition October 2013

English