Red Hand Day
Every year on February 12th, Red Hand Day calls on political figures to avoid the use of child soldiers. This day is also known as the International Day against the Use of Child Soldiers.
Sadly, many nations around the world continue to encourage the use of children in violent conflicts. At least 20 countries use over 250,000 child soldiers around the world. Afghanistan, Colombia, Iraq, the Philippines, Sudan, and Yemen are among the many countries where this activity is especially prevalent include Afghanistan, Colombia, Iraq, Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, Sudan, and Yemen. The majority of child soldiers are aged between 15 and 18 years old. However, some countries still recruit children as young as 9 years old.
In addition to facing life-threatening injuries, child soldiers also suffer from a lack of adequate nutrition, shelter, and health care. In addition,, punitive techniques are used to discipline these children. As a result, some of these child soldiers die or become permanently disabled.. Child soldiers who survive are traumatized for life.
No one is safe from becoming a soldier in certain countries. They even encourage girls to become soldiers. Both these girls also face the possibility of forced marriage and sexual assault. If these children have the opportunity to return home, their lives may also be difficult. Orphanages are also returning to some children. Others are unable to attend school or work a career.
How to celebrate #redhandday
On this day, children from around the world paint their hands red and write their handprints on paper. Some children include a personal note to discourage the use of child soldiers alongside their red handprint.. Several of the children who participate are former child soldiers. The event took over 250,000 red hands in over 100 countries in 2009. These handprints were given to the UN Secretary in New York City by these handprints. Other activities on this day include marches, petitions, and school awareness campaigns. Events are also hosted by several organisations, including World Vision, Amnesty International, and Child Soldiers International.
#RedHandDay is a hashtag that people use to participate, make a red handprint, photograph it, and post it on social media with the hashtag #RedHandDay.
Red hand day history
More than 150 governments introduced an optional law on February 12, 2002, outlawing the recruitment of children under the age of 18 in armed conflicts. Former child soldiers in 2008, to celebrate this protocol, collected red hand-prints and placed them on paper and banners.. They used the red hand to signal that they were putting an end to the use of child soldiers. Since then, the day has been designated as Red Hand Day.