CHILD SOLDIERS INTERNATIONAL ANNUAL REPORT 2017-18 CHILD SOLDIERS INTERNATIONAL ANNUAL REPORT 2017-18 Key events and progress over the financial year THE GLOBAL PICTURE OUR VISION Protecting children in conflict is one of the most urgent human rights issues of our time. Around the world more than 240 million children are living in countries affected by conflict. Many of them 14,000 face violence, displacement, hunger and exploitation by armed children recruited into armed groups 240 forces and groups. in Central African million children today live in Child Soldiers International’s World Index – guilty of child recruitment, after implementing Republic since the an online database mapping child recruitment measures to remove children from their ranks. latest conflict countries affected by ongoing conflict practices worldwide – highlights the The government-backed Civilian Joint Task started six participation of children in at least 18 conflicts Force in also signed a UN agreement years ago during the last year. to end child recruitment during the year.

The scale of exploitation of children in war Globally, over 10,000 children were formally is startling. Boko Haram’s attacks continue released from armed forces and groups 46 across the Lake Chad Basin region, where during 2017, according to the UN Secretary- State militaries the group has used an alarming number of General’s latest annual report on children around the world children as “suicide bombers”. 203 cases in and armed conflict. continue to recruit Nigeria and Cameroon were verified in 2017. children under the At least 18 At the community level, Child Soldiers age of 18 conflicts around the More than 3,000 cases of recruitment by International is working to consolidate this world where children armed groups in DR Congo were reported in progress – promoting best practice to ensure have participated in 2017. At least 19,000 under-18s are believed to that children formerly associated with armed hostilities since 2016 be participating in the conflict in South , forces and groups have a safe and positive and we are seeing the recruitment of children return home, and strengthening community 203 spike in the Middle East. initiatives to prevent their recruitment in reports of children the first place. 19,000 We are fighting to end this. We envision a being used as children recruited different life for children – one where they We believe that by driving forward progress ‘suicide bombers’ by armed forces can grow up realising their full potential and in law, and supporting these changes with by Boko Haram and armed groups enjoying all their human rights. practical, community-led initiatives, we can in Cameroon and in generate sustainable progress towards our Nigeria in 2017 over the past This year has seen some notable progress. goal: an end to child recruitment. four years 56 February 2018 marked the 18th anniversary armed groups and of the adoption of OPAC – the international We offer our thanks to all those who have seven state forces treaty which prohibits the use of children in supported us in our mission over the last named by the UN conflict. In September 2017 Central African year. From governments, international law Secretary-General Republic was the latest country to make the firms and charitable foundations, to the as guilty of child treaty law, taking the total number of state inspiring individuals, schools and community recruitment in 2017 parties to 167 out of 197 UN member states. groups who have so generously donated their time and money to our cause. The progress In 2017 the Congolese national army and the we have made has only been possible with Moro Islamic Liberation Front in the your support. *Statistics are accurate to our knowledge at the time of publication in July 2018 were removed from the UN list of parties Sources: United Nations, Save The Children, Child Soldiers International.

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OUR STRATEGY Our strategy is informed by one overarching goal: to prevent the military recruitment of any child.

We work with governments, the UN, NGOs, But we also go beyond these solutions, affected communities and children to identify to tackle the problems at their source. In and implement effective practical measures addition to our practical, community-based to prevent child recruitment, and to ensure programmes, we drive change in national laws children who escape or are released from and international standards – action which is armed groups and armed forces can rebuild essential for a permanent end to the military their lives. exploitation of children.

HOW WE WORK Our approach uses a combination of community-level prevention and international advocacy to prevent child recruitment in practice and in law. We work with the right experts in countries to drive progress towards our goals, both locally and globally.

Community Where necessary, we work with governments We work with local child protection actors to provide technical assistance and practical to bring about tangible improvements to the guidance to ensure these changes are lives of children and communities affected implemented effectively. We connect our local by conflict around the world. We strengthen partners with government and UN officials to the capacity of local organisations and work encourage concerted advocacy. with them to foster communities that protect children from recruitment and re-recruitment. International This ensures our initiatives are sustainable We use our research at the international level and can protect children from recruitment in to drive action, improve understanding and the long term. change the approaches of other international child rights and child protection actors, the UN, National and diplomats, for a more effective, permanent We conduct national level advocacy solution to ending child recruitment. campaigns, directly and with our partners, to bring about the political and legislative changes needed to end child recruitment.

CHILD SOLDIERS INTERNATIONAL ANNUAL REPORT 2017-18 7 ACHIEVEMENTS & PROGRESS

GENEVA MARCH 2018 We joined the Special Representative to the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict in a panel at a UN side- event to emphasise the importance of LONDON FEBRUARY 2018 responding to the needs of girls in child We were delighted to be chosen for the soldier reintegration programmes. BBC Radio 4 Charity Appeal in February. Voiced by radio presenter Jane Garvey, the appeal raised more than £26,000 for our DR Congo projects.

NAYPYIDAW FEBRUARY 2018 We held workshops in Naypyidaw and Yangon with our partner Equality . Engaging parliamentarians and local child protection actors, the NEW YORK FEBRUARY 2018 workshops focused on the need for Celebrating 18 years since the BRUSSELS JANUARY 2018 Myanmar to ratify the child soldier treaty. adoption of the child soldier treaty, We addressed an event at the EU we brought together governments, Parliament on the protection of international bodies and NGOs to the children returning to Europe from UN, at our ‘OPAC Turns 18’ event. We conflict zones abroad. also launched the Child Soldiers World Index - our online database mapping child recruitment practices, policies and laws worldwide. BANGUI MAY 2018 We published new training and educational resources, designed to support the efforts of government officials and community child protection GOMA JUNE 2017 groups in preventing the recruitment of We launched our extensive research children in the ongoing conflict. report, What the Girls Say, from DR Congo, detailing the harsh realities facing girls formerly associated with armed groups and sharing the girls’ recommendations on the support they need.

8 CHILD SOLDIERS INTERNATIONAL ANNUAL REPORT 2017-18 CHILD SOLDIERS INTERNATIONAL ANNUAL REPORT 2017-18 9 recruited by Séléka and Anti-Balaka militias and provide practical, accessible advice for the several other disparate armed groups. organisations and communities working to protect their children. Armed groups in the mainly Muslim Séléka coalition (now dissolved) and predominantly Christian Anti-Balaka militias have used “You had to protect yourself. children as young as eight as combatants, [Séléka] came to rape even guards, human shields, porters, messengers, spies, cooks, and/or for sexual purposes. old women like me… How do you expect these children Some children are abducted, but many join ‘voluntarily’ to protect themselves and their to react?” communities. This is especially so with A community member in Pissa Anti-Balaka groups, many of whom are poorly equipped and organised, but emerged Our booklets (published in French and locally for self-defence. The situation is Sango) provide essential, illustrated exacerbated by the reality that released information to organisations working in children often return to communities where conflict-affected communities: accessible the same armed groups are still operating, notes on the impact of armed conflict on and risk being re-recruited. children; laws which prohibit child recruitment; practical measures to prevent child Preventing this from happening is our recruitment; and the role of communities in driving goal in CAR. Our training and protecting children from recruitment. awareness-raising materials are tailored to

Our partner, Enfants Sans Frontières, delivers a community workshop on preventing recruitment in Boali, May 2018. Our work in Central African Republic has accelerated over the past 12 months with the development of community awareness-raising materials to help stem child recruitment

Working closely with UNICEF, the UN Mission efforts to prevent the recruitment of in CAR (MINUSCA), the government of CAR, children into armed groups, amidst the our national partner Enfants sans Frontières, ongoing conflict. and local child protection organisations, we have produced essential new resources, which Since CAR’s current conflict started in 2012, the are strengthening government and community UN says more than 14,000 children have been A workshop we held with ESF in Pissa during this year’s trip.

10 CHILD SOLDIERS INTERNATIONAL ANNUAL REPORT 2017-18 CHILD SOLDIERS INTERNATIONAL ANNUAL REPORT 2017-18 11 Dieudonné: The community volunteer

A former school teacher turned child rights activist, Dieudonné Kougbet is among the first people to start using the training booklet: "It is very useful," Dieudonné told us, "I have read it every night since the workshop and we have already disseminated all copies to the rest of our members."

Dieudonné lives and works in Bangui's PK5 district – one of the capital’s most volatile areas and the sight of a church attack in May 2018 which killed 22 and injured more than 100 people. He belongs to a local child protection network which is having a profound impact on the lives of young people in the community. The volunteer network helps take care of several groups [l-r] An ESF representative, Boali chief Dèlè Pape Estève and Child Soldiers International’s of vulnerable children including those un- Sandra Olsson. accompanied by adults or family members, orphans, street children, teenage mothers, taking care of two children formerly as well as children who are, or have been, associated with armed groups until their “We sensitise and encourage used by armed groups. families can be found.

the girls, but also the In his area there are at least 66 children He is hopeful that now he and his network community. It’s hard and takes associated with armed groups, including four of volunteers are equipped with the new girls. Some of them had been released but resources, they can work with local leaders time. The prevention materials have since re-joined. and authorities to improve prevention will give us inspiration to practices and over time, ‘invite the warlords’ “We are planning a large awareness-raising to engage in dialogue. continue.” campaign but there is a lack of resources, A community volunteer in Pissa especially for visibility because some of our “The actors aren’t really known and neither members cannot move around easily,” he are their motivations. Sometimes their Our poster-book – which we shared in several added. agendas are hidden. If only we knew what communities during our trip in May 2018 they really wanted we could address it,” – is designed as a visual aid for local child For Dieudonné, the issues have become he added. “In the meantime, we [the child protection actors. It will support community- acutely personal. His family is temporarily protection volunteers] act to help children.” based dialogue sessions to discuss the harmful effects of child recruitment. This is helping communities recognise that – During our time in CAR we held a workshop criminalise the recruitment of those aged even if encouraging children to join may seem with government officials to plan practical under 18 by armed groups and forces. to be the best solution in the short-term – steps which will ensure the government meets it has disastrous outcomes for both children the requirements of the newly ratified child and the community. soldier treaty. The Ministry of Justice agreed to begin work on a national law which will

12 CHILD SOLDIERS INTERNATIONAL ANNUAL REPORT 2017-18 CHILD SOLDIERS INTERNATIONAL ANNUAL REPORT 2017-18 13 Some of the girls were forced to fight, others were exploited as domestic slaves; forced to carry weapons, care for babies born to other girl soldiers, or act as spies and messengers.

“We heard that we could get money there; I went because I wanted to get enough money to go back to school.” The Practical Guide is an illustrated handbook, published in three local languages, which The stigma many endure when they do return outlines practical, low-cost interventions which home often stems from their ‘having known communities can implement themselves to men’ – a phrase the girls used to refer to the ensure that returning girls are welcomed sexual abuse and attacks they suffered. safely back home.

We are working to change this by providing In November 2017, we returned to Goma much-needed support to girls coming home in eastern DR Congo for the launch of the from conflict, and especially by promoting Practical Guide, and to lead an action plan for community acceptance towards them. the roll-out of the guide across communities affected by child recruitment.

“We were treated like toys. Instrumental to the initiative is our new Lucky were those who only had National Action Group, a network of government representatives and local Girls we interviewed in 2016 are shown the published report during a return visit to Lupango, one man.” organisations, founded with the goal of South Kivu in November 2017. improving acceptance of girls formerly To date, our projects have helped 177 girls associated with armed groups. back into education in communities across eastern DR Congo. Where appropriate, “Every girl from the bush, the DEMOCRATIC we are supplementing formal schooling with agricultural training classes, geared to community points to her and REPUBLIC OF CONGO convert the girls’ newly acquired literacy knowledge into business skills which can says: ‘Watch out: HIV.’” Our work across eastern DR Congo continued to expand and support them for life. reached even more affected communities during the past year The group is operating in both North But our goal extends beyond the girls and South Kivu and brings together child who we support directly. To ensure the protection actors, community elders, religious In June 2017 we published What The Girls Say, Congo, the report shows how rejection and wider and more sustainable roll out of our leaders, and members of the police and our extensive research report revealing the bullying is commonplace for many girls. recommendations, we have worked closely military, for community workshops. The difficult realities faced by girls returning home with local organisations, community leaders workshops, started in February 2018, are from armed conflict. Most of the girls we interviewed suffered and government officials to develop a Practical designed to encourage dialogue around serious sexual abuse while with armed groups Guide (pictured above right) to support the the discrimination which the girls suffer, and Based on interviews with 150 girls formerly and some were taken as ‘wives’ by boys and reintegration of girls formerly associated with to support practical implementation of the associated with armed groups in eastern DR men in the groups. armed groups. solutions in the Practical Guide.

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Despite a minimum enlistment age of 18 in In February 2018, Child Soldiers International law, large numbers of boys have been and Equality Myanmar hosted two workshops recruited, often forcibly, into the Tatmadaw, with Parliamentarians and civil society with some sent to the front lines far from organisations in the country to encourage the home and forced to fight in gruelling and ratification of OPAC and discuss steps to be dangerous conditions. taken to fully eradicate child recruitment.

We have been working to strengthen measures “Problems were raised to end the recruitment of children in the country for nearly a decade. A UN Action Plan was and ways to encourage the signed in 2012 to end the use of child soldiers government to ratify OPAC by the national army. Since then, the Tatmadaw has released 849 children and taken significant were discussed. Dynamic steps to reduce child recruitment. engagement for protection of children in armed conflict took “It was a great pleasure to see place in this workshop and has the MPs discussing about this paved the way for action and issue and ways for ratification implementation in our country of OPAC at the workshop in very soon.” Naypyidaw.” Equality Myanmar director Aung Myo Min Equality Myanmar director Aung Myo Min The workshops in Yangon and Naypyidaw In November 2015 the government took focused on the various ways that children can another welcome step by signing the child become associated with armed forces and Kachin Independence Army soldiers at Jan Mai Bum outpost in Kachin State. soldier treaty (OPAC). However, it still needs armed groups, the history of the use of child to ratify the treaty to ensure its principles are soldiers in Myanmar, and progress in dealing implemented and fully binding. with the issue to date. MYANMAR We worked with local child protection actors and engaged national authorities in Myanmar to ratify the child soldier treaty and further their efforts to prevent child recruitment

In Myanmar, conflicts between the armed decades of war, the use of child soldiers has forces and ethnic armed groups have raged been widespread. for over half a century. Since independence in 1948, Myanmar’s military, the Tatmadaw, has Myanmar’s internal armed conflicts have conducted a national campaign to establish been marked by severe human rights central control over the country, while many violations, attacks against civilians, and mass of Myanmar’s diverse ethnic groups have displacement, with children widely used taken up arms to fight for autonomy. Over by both the Tatmadaw and armed groups. Child Soldiers International workshop held in Naypyidaw, February 2018.

16 CHILD SOLDIERS INTERNATIONAL ANNUAL REPORT 2017-18 CHILD SOLDIERS INTERNATIONAL ANNUAL REPORT 2017-18 17 © Albert Gonzalez Farran / Medair Farran Gonzalez © Albert

cause extreme difficulties during the process of their release and reintegration. SOUTH SUDAN TIMELINE July 2011 While there were some success stories, South Sudan gains independence our research showed that programmes that did exist were ad-hoc, too short term, July 2013 not adequately resourced and not tailored President Salva Kiir sacks entire cabinet to girls’ specific needs. At the heart of the amid a power struggle in the government problem was the fact that the girls themselves were often rarely listened to – about what December 2013 they experienced in the armed group, the Civil war erupts after President Kiir challenges they faced upon return home or accuses former vice president Riek Machar the help they needed to reintegrate into their of trying to overthrow government communities. March 2014 Support programmes often fail to reach girls, The UN says more than 1 million people leaving many to try and leave of their own have fled their homes since the 2013 accord. When they return to their communities, conflict began and thousands killed or many girls choose to conceal their association wounded with fighting forces – fearing stigma and rejection – and decide not to approach any February 2015 assistance programmes which may exist. 89 school students abducted in the north. At this point, UNICEF estimates over UNICEF has said that in 2018 it will assist in the 12,000 children recruited by armed forces release of more than 1,000 children in South and groups since 2013 Sudan. Whilst this process continues, it is of paramount importance that the appropriate December 2016 support structures are in place – for both boys A UN Commission on Human Rights says and girls. ethnic cleansing is underway in parts of SOUTH SUDAN the country Building on the experience of our work In the year ahead, we will be expanding our work to South Sudan – in DR Congo, we will be talking to girls February 2017 a country where an estimated 19,000 children have been recruited who have returned from armed groups, A famine is declared in several regions in since 2013 their communities and child protection what the UN describes as a man-made organisations in South Sudan. Working closely catastrophe with UNICEF during the year ahead, we will The most recent conflict in South Sudan, million internally displaced persons and over develop a Practical Guide which will advise December 2017 beginning in December 2013, has had a 6 million people in the country facing severe communities on steps they can take to support UNICEF estimates that more than 19,000 severe impact on children, with an estimated food shortages. the girls’ return to civilian life. children recruited since 2013 and over 19,000 children associated with armed forces 2,300 children killed or injured and groups according to UNICEF. It is in this hostile environment that thousands Our expertise in developing practical guidance of children are being recruited by parties on all for child protection actors will ensure that May 2018 The recruitment of children continues as sides of the conflict. assistance is suited to girls’ specific needs, UNICEF help facilitate the release of over the humanitarian crisis spreads across the does not reinforce stigma, and promotes 200 children from armed groups, taking country. In April 2018, UNICEF identified that Our research in DR Congo has taught us that gender equality. Significantly, we will ensure the number of children they have helped there were over 2.4 million South Sudanese the sexual violence that girls associated with that the experiences, needs and wishes of free in 2018 to more than 800 refugees in neighbouring countries, 1.76 armed forces and groups often suffer can girls themselves are listened to.

18 CHILD SOLDIERS INTERNATIONAL ANNUAL REPORT 2017-18 CHILD SOLDIERS INTERNATIONAL ANNUAL REPORT 2017-18 19 The launch of the World Index coincided with FACT FILE our event at the UN in New York marking 18 • 109 countries have a ‘Straight-18’ policy CHILD SOLDIERS years since the adoption of the international for military recruitment in practice, child soldier treaty. meaning a minimum age of 18 for WORLD INDEX enlistment as well as deployment Celebrating progress made since 2000, A unique online resource, the World Index maps the global picture the event, co-hosted by Child Soldiers • 46 States (23%) still recruit under-18s on child recruitment practices, laws and policies International, UNICEF and the Permanent into their armed forces in practice UN Missions of Belgium, Canada, Colombia, • Children have been used in hostilities, In February 2018, we launched the Child and Myanmar have been exploited by France and , renewed our by both state armed forces and non- Soldiers World Index – the first online global armed groups and forces. campaign to keep the issue of child state armed groups, in at least 18 data hub on child recruitment and use. recruitment on the global agenda. conflicts since 2016 The World Index also plots key developments Covering all 197 UN Members States, the in international policies and treaties and More than 100 participants representing • At least 85 countries criminalise the World Index includes authoritative data on documents the international criminal cases Member States, donors, the UN, NGOs and recruitment of children by non-state national laws, policies and child recruitment relating to the recruitment and use of children. academics joined us in New York to voice armed groups and/or state armed forces practices worldwide. their commitments to ending the use of child • Since it was adopted in 2000, 167 We believe this will become an invaluable soldiers, and to participate in discussions countries have ratified OPAC – 30 have Since the adoption of OPAC in 2000, 167 resource for governments, international bodies about some of the challenges we are facing in yet to do so states have now banned the use of children in and peer organisations working to end child reaching this goal. armed conflict. exploitation in conflict around the world. In • The United States of America is the giving a global picture on the current and This was also an opportunity for us to present only UN Member State not to have However, the World Index shows that historic state of child recruitment we can our work more widely to the international ratified the Convention on the Rights children have been used in conflict in at map the progress made over the years community. We were able to further spotlight of the Child least 18 countries since 2016. Spanning four and pinpoint where further action still needs our projects in DR Congo, CAR and Myanmar Source: Child Soldiers International World continents, boys and girls from Colombia to to be taken. and show how we are helping engage Index , DR Congo, Sudan and across to , schoolchildren around the world through our Red Hand Day campaign.

20 CHILD SOLDIERS INTERNATIONAL ANNUAL REPORT 2017-18 CHILD SOLDIERS INTERNATIONAL ANNUAL REPORT 2017-18 21 OUR YEAR IN NUMBERS From field visits to fundraising, some standout figures of our work over a busy 12 months

2,768 25 Followers on Local organisations in Central Twitter African Republic received our community training booklets to RAISING THE MILITARY help prevent child recruitment RECRUITMENT AGE £2,662 Raised by WORLDWIDE our London Years since OPAC was adopted 10,000 Marathon – the child soldier treaty which Data points make up the Child We continue to campaign for ‘Straight-18’ military recruitment runner Tom we successfully campaigned and Soldiers World Index – our policies around the world Shuttleworth advocated for turned 18 this year authoritative new online resource on child recruitment and use For many years states have assumed that organisations, parliamentarians, church Diplomatic and UN if they are not routinely deploying child groups, the UN, and many veterans. officials attended recruits in hostilities, they are abiding by their 130 our OPAC Turns 94% commitments under international law. We are working with parliamentarians across 18 event at the Of the funds the political spectrum to call for the British UN Headquarters we received Our 2018 report, Why 18 Matters, challenges government to raise the minimum age of in New York this went directly this assumption by analysing the implications of recruitment into the army to 18. February to support our recruiting children into military forces. Drawing programme upon academic and official sources and the In July 2017, we revealed in The Guardian that activity around testimony of recruits, the report explains how the British army’s latest recruitment campaign the world the policy of recruiting at 16 and 17 violates the – This Is Belonging – was disproportionately 107 minimum safeguards required under the UN aimed at children from lower socioeconomic Media articles – across print, Convention on the Rights of the Child. backgrounds. broadcast and online – which featured Child Soldiers Why 18 Matters draws heavily on case studies In September 2017, we provided supporting International’s work from the UK, which remains the only country in evidence to the Scottish National Party’s youth Europe recruiting 16-year-olds, and one of only wing as they successfully petitioned the party Girls in 46 state militaries in the world to still recruit to campaign on raising the enlistment age to 18. eastern DR £26,026 under-18s. 177 Congo we Donated to our In January 2018, we joined Plaid Cymru MP Liz >1,000 have now BBC Radio 4 In the UK, 72% of the public believe joining the Saville Roberts at an event in Westminster to school submissions received for helped get Charity Appeal army should only be open to those aged 18 or discuss the need for a change in recruitment our Red Hand Day campaign back into above. All four Children’s Commissioners of policy and were joined by several politicians, education the UK agree, as do child rights and welfare campaigners and military veterans.

22 CHILD SOLDIERS INTERNATIONAL ANNUAL REPORT 2017-18 CHILD SOLDIERS INTERNATIONAL ANNUAL REPORT 2017-18 23 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2. Statement of financial activities for the year ended 31 March 2018 Unrestricted Restricted Total funds FOR THE YEAR ENDED funds £ funds £ 2018 £

31 MARCH 2018 Income

1. Financial review Donations and grant income 142,800 438,917 581,717 We are pleased to report £620,546 income We continue to work to ensure that the highest for 2018, a 13% increase from 2017 (£546,148). possible proportion of our income is dedicated Income from charitable activities 450 38,346 38,796 We offer our sincere thanks to the individuals, to delivering our charitable activities, whilst schools and organisations who continued to at the same time maintaining the highest Bank interest 33 - 33 pledge their support, or joined our cause for standards of best practice in operational the first time. management and governance. TOTAL INCOME 143,283 477,263 620,546

We were delighted by the continued growth in This year we achieved cuts in our overheads – donations from individual supporters, whose by relocating to a shared office space, and by contributions enabled us to extend the scope capping the salary levels of senior staff. Expenditure of our core projects, to reach more children. Driven by these efforts, we are pleased that Raising funds 15,158 29,191 44,349 Our BBC Radio 4 Appeal, broadcast in 94% of our expenditure was committed to February 2018, was a particular highlight. Our the delivery of our projects, with 6% being Costs of charitable activities: thanks go to the listeners, and other generous used to finance our efforts to secure funding individuals, who enabled us to expand our for future work. - National and community programmes 75,688 164,209 239,897 education projects in DR Congo. - International advocacy and campaigns 125,272 312,219 437,491 Fundraising costs £ 44,349 TOTAL EXPENDITURE 216,118 505,619 721,737

Net income/(expenditure) for the year (72,835) (28,356) (101,191) 6% Reconciliation of funds

Total funds brought forward 191,552 238,558 430,110 Country-based projects Total funds carried forward 165,377 194,513 359,890 33% £ 239,897

International 61% advocacy and campaigns £ 437,491

24 CHILD SOLDIERS INTERNATIONAL ANNUAL REPORT 2017-18 CHILD SOLDIERS INTERNATIONAL ANNUAL REPORT 2017-18 25 3. Balance sheet at 31 March 2018 Auditors statement on the Financial Statements We have examined the summary Financial Statements set out on these pages. GBP £ GBP £ Respective responsibilities of Trustees and Auditors Fixed assets - These summary accounts presented on these pages are the responsibility of the trustees. It is our responsibility to report our opinion of their consistency with the full financial statements, on which we reported on 4 July 2018. Our report on the full financial statements of Child Soldiers International includes information on the responsibilities of the trustees and the auditors relating Current assets to the preparation and the audit of those financial statements and on the basis of our unqualified opinion of those financial statements. Debtors 230,161 Basis of opinion Cash at bank and in hand 163,929 We have carried out the procedures we consider necessary to ascertain whether the summary accounts are consistent with the full financial statements from which they have been prepared. 394,090 Opinion Creditors: amounts falling due within one year (34,200) In our opinion, the summary accounts on these pages are consistent with the full financial statements of Child Soldiers International for the year ended 31 March 2018.

H. W Fisher & Company, Chartered Accountants, Registered Auditors, Acre House, 11-15 William Total net current assets less current liabilities 359,890 Road, London NW1 3ER

4 July 2018

Total net assets at 31 March 2018 359,890 THE TEAM The funds of the charity: Trustees Staff team: Chair Director of Programmes: Isabelle Guitard Restricted funds 194,513 Julie Light Director of Operations: Carol Steel Director of Programmes (maternity cover)/ Unrestricted funds Elected trustees: Senior Campaigns Manager: Rachel Taylor 165,377 Janet Anderson Senior Advocacy Consultant: Hiba Qaraman Véronique Aubert Programme Manager, Child Protection: Sandra Olsson Total funds held by Child Soldiers International at 31 March 2018 359,890 Duncan Barnet Programme Manager, Child Rights: Tim Molyneux Lliam Findlay Programme Manager, Projects, M&E and Fundraising: Bo Viktor Nylund Lianne Minasian These summarised accounts are extracted from the full unqualified audited accounts approved Alison Wallace Administrative Officer: Melanie Doucakis by the trustees on 18 June 2018. Christine Watkins Communications Officer: Chris Matthews

For further information, the full statutory accounts, which have been filed with the Charity Commission and Companies House, should be consulted. These can be obtained from Child Soldiers International, The Grayston Centre, 28 Charles Square, London N1 6HT.

26 CHILD SOLDIERS INTERNATIONAL ANNUAL REPORT 2017-18 CHILD SOLDIERS INTERNATIONAL ANNUAL REPORT 2017-18 27 29 ANNUAL REPORT 2017-18 REPORT ANNUAL United Nations United Affairs Fulmer Charitable Trust Charitable Trust Fulmer Henhurst Charitable Trust Lovells Hogan Trust Charitable Rowntree Joseph MinistryLuxembourg Affairs Foreign for Norwegian Royal Ministry for Foreign Affairs Fund Family Ramsey The Reddish High Vale School the to Leone Sierra Mission of Permanent Simmons & Simmons Lucy Slade Foundation Place St. James's Al-KhayyatSuha Federal DepartmentSwitzerland Foreign of Germany Hommes des Terre Becky and Shuttleworth Tom Talas Yvett UNICEF White & Case CHILD SOLDIERS INTERNATIONAL SOLDIERS CHILD Settlement Nations Nations Nations Nations Thank you for helping us end the recruitment and use of child soldiers. of use child and us end the recruitment helping for you Thank OUR SUPPORTERS AND AND SUPPORTERS OUR DURING CONTRIBUTORS THE YEAR individual supporters generous Our Nesta & Allan Charitable Ferguson The Belgium Ministry for Foreign Affairs United the to Belgium Mission of Permanent Paisner Bryan Leighton Cave Cambridge University Group RAG United the Canada to Mission of Permanent Carole Kuhuma Charity Next Foundation Chance Clifford United the to Colombia Mission of Permanent Pratt Corps, InstituteDesign Eastman John and Jodie Foundation All Above Education Åström Eliasson Emma GarveyJane Trust Flapjack United the to France Mission of Permanent ANNUAL REPORT 2017-18 REPORT ANNUAL

© Amy Smyth CHILD SOLDIERS INTERNATIONAL SOLDIERS CHILD

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