Africa: More nations join ban on child soldiers

Hailing the move by several countries to ban the use of child soldiers, a top United Nations official has urged that all nations that have not yet done so take the important step of signing and ratifying the global treaty that serves to protect children in armed conflict. 'Today is a landmark day for children,' Radhika Coomaraswamy, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, said after three countries either signed or ratified the Optional Protocol on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict.