WHILE "JACK BAUER" SAVES CHILD SOLDIERS, U.S. TAX DOLLARS CONTINUE TO FUND THEIR EXPLOITATION ABROAD: Bill to restrict military funding to governments using child soldiers will die without vote
WASHINGTON, November 21, 2008 - The fictional "Jack Bauer" nearly single-handedly saves whole countries from certain destruction on the FOX Network show, "24." On Sunday, "Bauer," played by Kiefer Sutherland, saves children abducted by an African warlord and forced to serve as child soldiers in the television movie, "24: Redemption." At the same time, American tax dollars continue to help fund the use of real child soldiers around the world, and Congress continues to stall on voting for a bill that could help prevent their exploitation around the world.
According to the U.S. Department of State, American tax dollars currently provide military assistance to six governments that exploit children as soldiers: Afghanistan, Chad, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sri Lanka, Sudan and Uganda.
Worldwide, a quarter of a million children are used by these and other national armies and armed groups as soldiers, mine detectors, porters, and sex slaves.
The Child Soldier Prevention Act (S.1175) would restrict U.S. military assistance to these countries, providing funds only to help these governments transition to exclusively-adult forces. The bill was introduced in Congress April 19, 2007, and the Senate has yet to vote on it.
This Congress is due to conclude sometime in early December. If the Senate does not vote to pass The Child Soldier Prevention Act, the legislation will die, and American tax dollars will continue to pay to put guns in the hands of child soldiers around the world.
World Vision is calling its donors and American taxpayers to contact their Members of Congress and urge them to pass the Child Soldier Prevention Act. More information can be found at: www.worldvision.org/seekjustice by clicking on the "Action of the Week" button.
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World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice.
[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]
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