3 – CHILD SOLDIER Vatican City (Fides Service) – Inspired by Pope John Paul II’s message for Lent 2004, entitled “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me” (Mt 18,5) in which the Pope voices concern for the plight of so many of the world’s children, Fides is publishing a series of special issues on the tragedy of lost childhood.

“Humanity cannot close its eyes to such a tragedy! What have these children done to deserve such maltreatment?” (John Paul II – Message for Lent)

• DOSSIER FIDES SPECIAL LENT 2004
  “Humanity cannot close its eyes to such a tragedy! What have these children done to deserve such maltreatment?” (John Paul II - Message for Lent)
  3 - CHILD SOLDIERS
• DOSSIER - AFRICA/UGANDA - “I was a girl soldier”: the story of Paska
• DOSSIER - AFRICA/UGANDA - In 18 years of civil war rebels have enlisted 35,000 children. AVSI Association of Volunteers for International Development assists children who escaped their captors
• DOSSIER - AFRICA/SIERRA LEONE - “The most difficult thing is to help the youngsters forced to kill to find their identity again” says Xaverian missionary in Sierra Leone who helps rehabilitation of child soldiers in Sierra Leone
• DOSSIER ASIA/MYANMAR - Only education can rehabilitate former child soldiers in this country with a sad record number of tiny troops: Archbishop Charles Bo of Yangon talks to Fides
• DOSSIER ASIA/SRI LANKA - Yesterday brutalised and indoctrinated, today loved and educated to love: “Some former child soldiers are now teachers. This is our peace process, not talking at a table but acting in daily life, ” Father Pinto Humer told Fides.
• DOSSIER AMERICA/COLOMBIA - Guerrilla and paramilitary are causing irreparable damage to Columbia using children in fighting: more than 11,000 says Human Rights Watch.
• DOSSIER AMERICA/COLOMBIA - “Children involved in armed combat, are not only subject to maltreatment and abuse they are also targets for assassins”: National Pontifical Mission Societies Director in Colombia told Fides.

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PHOTOGRAPHS to down load free of charge

Africa/Rwanda: Children whose home is the UN camp at Kiziva :

Africa/Etiopia : Zway :

Asia/Korea : Little inmates at Holy Infant Adoption Center

Asia /Mongolia : Abandoned children find a family at the CICM House

Spagna/Mostra: "I volti della schiavitù: Non sono bambini lavoratori, sono schiavi"

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DOCUMENTS:

Pope John Paul II’s message for Lent 2004 >>

Dossier MISSIONARY CHILDHOOD DAY >>