The Roméo Dallaire Child Soldiers Initiative Annual Report 2017
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
THE ROMÉO DALLAIRE CHILD SOLDIERS INITIATIVE ANNUAL REPORT 2017 www.childsoldiers.org Roméo Dallaire Child Soldiers Initiative | Annual Report 2017 1 FOUNDER CURRENT STAFF LGen the Honourable Roméo Dallaire, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR REGIONAL TRAINING MANAGER: AFRICA O.C., C.M.M., G.O.Q, M.S.C, C.D., (ret’d) Dr. Shelly Whitman Musa Gbow INTERNATIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE DIRECTOR OF TRAINING TRAINING MANAGER Catherine Baillie Abidi Jennifer McNeil General Maurice Baril, O.C., C.M.M, DIRECTOR OF FUND DEVELOPMENT PROJECT MANAGER: SOUTH SUDAN M.S.M, C.D. (ret’d) (FACULTY OF ARTS AND SOCIAL SCIENCES) Beattie Robertson Ishmael Beah, B.A. Lori Ward COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER Major General Patrick Cammaert (ret’d) DIRECTOR OF PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT Amara Bangura Michel Chikwanine Rachael Borlase PROGRAM OFFICER – RESEARCH Nigel Fisher, O.C, O.Ont., M.S.C., LL.D(Hon) DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH AND EDUCATION Dustin Johnson Robert Fowler, O.C. Molly Den Heyer MONITORING AND EVALUATION SPECIALIST The Honourable Mobina S.B Jaffer, Q.C. DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS Victoria Bryce Josh Boyter The Right Honourable Paul E. Martin, P.C., C.C. EDUCATION AND TRAINING COORDINATOR CHIEF OF OPERATIONS Dr. James Orbinski, O.C., O.Ont., M.S.C Pethrona Russell Aimée White Gérard Veilleux, O.C., B.Comm., M.Pub. Admin FINANCIAL CONTROLLER ADMINISTRATIVE COORDINATOR TO THE FOUNDER Jody Williams, M.A., M.A., B.A. Josée Barakett Maria Wharton CREDITS EDUCATION PROGRAMS MANAGER Joëlle Badman DESIGN Allison Goodall COPY Josh Boyter, Amara Bangura CONTENTS INTRODUCTORY MESSAGE 2 THEORY OF CHANGE 3 TRAINING 4 RESEARCH 8 EDUCATION 10 ADVOCACY 14 FINANCIALS 16 DONORS 18 Roméo Dallaire Child Soldiers Initiative | Annual Report 2017 1 INTRODUCTORY MESSAGE FROM DR. SHELLY WHITMAN AND LGEN ROMÉO DALLAIRE (RET’D) Prevention is worth a pound of cure as the old adage states. When put into practice, prevention can not only As our organization continues to expand and the demand for our work increases, we know now more than be more affordable and equitable, but save people from experiencing the horrors of war. ever that a strong foundation is necessary in order for that growth to continue. Our 2017 annual report will introduce you to our organizational theory of change and how we continue to work with a wide range of The Dallaire Initiative is in the business of practicing prevention. In every aspect of our work, we prioritize stakeholders to create momentum towards a Children’s Rights Upfront Approach. prevention over reaction. In 2017, we not only brought this prevention-first rigor to our work, but laid the groundwork for a prevention oriented approach to ending the use of child soldiers globally. Through a Children’s Rights Upfront Approach, we seek to build momentum on issues that relate to children affected by armed conflict. Through raising children higher up on the peace and security agenda, we build In many ways, 2017 was marked by organizational growth and new heights achieved by our training, collaboration and solutions that aim to protect children from risk of recruitment and use as child soldiers. research, education and advocacy work. We completed groundbreaking projects, such as the support of a Child Protection Advisor Position in the AMISOM peacekeeping mission, and the launch of the Vancouver Every person has a very personal stake in achieving our vision, a world where children are no longer used as Principles on Peacekeeping and Preventing the Recruitment and Use of Child Soldiers. This past year also weapons of war. For all of us, our contribution will be a little different, but its impact will be felt no less. marked the expansion of our organization to new countries—South Sudan and Jordan—and new multi-year This annual report also features the people behind the work of our organization and how different individuals funding that will allow us to keep pace with the growing need for our work. across the Dallaire Initiative are putting theory into action and creating the momentum towards change. Each In addition to the high-level advocacy and expanded training programs, we trained over 380 troops from 8 individual brings a unique set of skills, perspectives and personal experiences that enables our work to have countries, including Somalia, Uganda, and Jordan. Our ongoing research shows that Dallaire Initiative training an impact across borders, in the field, and at the highest reaches of government and international institutions. participants have improved knowledge and skills to deal with issues related to children affected by armed As an organization, we are poised to take on new challenges and build off the momentum that we have created conflict. This includes encounters with child soldiers, reporting cases of abuse, and preventing child soldier over the past year. This will take the concerted effort of staff, partners, donors and other key stakeholders. recruitment tactics such as attacks on schools. This past year the Dallaire Initiative signed agreements with Together, we can continue to achieve our vision: a world where children are no longer used as weapons of war. new partners including the Jordanian Public Security Directorate and the Rwandan Defence Force, and are now building new relationships with militaries in Nigeria and South Sudan. Sincerely, In addition to our work with the security sector, our education programming expanded in communities and schools. In Sierra Leone, we established “peace clubs” with a local CSO partner, Pikin-to-Pikin,—which are accessed by more than 100 children in 3 schools across the country. Dr. Shelly Whitman LGen Roméo Dallaire (Ret’d) Executive Director, Founder, The Roméo Dallaire Child Soldiers Initiative The Roméo Dallaire Child Soldiers Initiative 2 Roméo Dallaire Child Soldiers Initiative | Annual Report 2017 THEORY OF CHANGE OUR PILLARS OUR VISION The Dallaire Initiative undertakes its work through interconnected programmatic pillars: research, training, advocacy and education. These programmatic pillars OUR MISSION ensure we build robust and holistic solutions to preventing the recruitment and use of child soldiers. to OUR RESULTS ed anc nh h. RESEARCH s e ac rk pro o Ap ew nt m fro We conduct world-class interdisciplinary ra p l f U a ts g h research to build—and share—knowledge, e g l i OUR PILLARS d R In n ’s d a n i which in turn leads to new solutions. e v y r id ic d R u l il y o c e in a h l p C a s f s l c e o a a r a a m n n o e d o t v r a i a c t t i g r d o a o h r n A n o r p u c a e p t n b i s TRAINING n o I THEORY INTO ACTION u h t a t v h e e We deliver tactical, prevention-oriented a The Dallaire Initiative uses research p n r e i n v training to security sector actors, to promote to inform and develop innovative and c e r n n e e t t a a i impactful tools, policies and practices to i o o s s broader security sector reform. n n e e d d o o a help our partners implement a Children’s f f a a b b t s t h h i t i S l r l e e i Rights Upfront Approach with a specific i e t e t y y r n c r e e g t u t c c o focus on preventing the use and o t r r r h i u u c t c e y i i r r t n t e e m s recruitment of child soldiers. m a e a e n e e t t ADVOCACY d e c T e n t o n c t t s o r i s a a a a p r a t a n n f a f e a a e d c i d c We engage in high-level advocacy activities n e t e u i o c u n t n s y r i s v u v e s n e i i t r — d r o o g o o o to create and promote the political will to end f E f n n p m c c m r m h e i h i l i e e l v i l d t d n e a n the use of children as soldiers. t t s n r s s s o y o t , l l f f d d o t p o i h i r r e o e e r l r c i c s c s h h . re e . i i l , l d c p d r r e r e u a e n it c n m e a k a n e e n d n e d t p an ers d —ha use ve T of EDUCATION h child e soldi s. pr ers. er og ldi We build capacity of those who work, res so A siv ild mentor, and care for children on ways to w e e ch o lim e of rld inat us e. prevent recruitment and support those w ion of nt and bl h the recruitme ka affected by armed conflict. ere in th nth e r s u ecr ar i uitm of w ent a pons nd use of children as wea Roméo Dallaire Child Soldiers Initiative | Annual Report 2017 3 TRAINING PROTECTING CHILDREN IN SOMALIA he Roméo Dallaire Child Soldiers Initiative has been working in Somalia since 2015, Thelping the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and the Somali national military to become more professional in dealing with children in armed conflict.