Published on 14/10/2024
The Eastern Africa Standby Force (EASF) has launched a Children and Armed Conflict Course to strengthen member states’ abilities to address the critical issue of children in armed conflict.
The course, which includes military, police and civilian participants from ten EASF member states, aims to deepen understanding of conflict dynamics and their effects on children. It also promotes collaboration and the sharing of insights among participants.


This initiative is a significant step towards protecting children and improving regional responses to armed conflict. The course underscores the importance of collective efforts in safeguarding vulnerable populations.
In his opening remarks at the United Nations Regional Service Centre Entebbe, Brigadier General Peter Gaetano Omola, Commander of the Uganda Rapid Deployment Capability Centre, emphasized the critical role of the EASF in providing the African Union with the necessary capabilities to respond to conflicts through peace missions and interventions.


He underscored the devastating consequences faced by millions of children worldwide due to armed conflict, including forced recruitment as child soldiers, violence, and exploitation.
“As representatives of nations committed to peace and security, we bear a collective responsibility to protect these vulnerable members of our society,” Brig Gen Omola stated.

The lead facilitator of the course Anthony Ombara said that it aims to enhance the collective capacity of peace support operations personnel to prevent and respond to issues related to child protection. “It is there for our moral and legal imperative do everything in our power to shift children from the horror of War.”

Ombara highlighted the severe physical and psychological trauma suffered by children during conflicts, stating that, “Children are the most affected and the most valuable victims are during conflicts, they suffer physical and psychological trauma.”
Ms. Allen Ruhanga Taremwa from the EASF Secretariat noted that the training will equip peace support operations personnel with the knowledge and skills necessary to prevent and respond to child protection issues during their assignments, aligning with regional and international standards.
The participants of the course were drawn from the 10 Eastern Africa Standby Force Member States including Burundi, Comoros, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Seychelles, Somalia, Sudan and Uganda, which are signatories to the Memorandum of Understanding on the Establishment of the Eastern Africa Standby Force.

According to the Annual Report of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict from the period of August 2023 to July 2024, children have disproportionately suffered from the blatant disregard for international humanitarian law and severe breaches of international human rights law by parties to conflict.