PROTOCOL ON CHILDREN'S RIGHTS COMES INTO FORCE

VATICAN CITY, FEB 20, 2002 (VIS) - On February 12, Archbishop Renato Martino, Holy See Permanent Observer to the United Nations, took part in a press conference marking the entrance into force of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict.

The Optional Protocol was adopted by the UN General Assembly in May 2000. To date it has been signed by 96 countries and ratified by 14 others, including the Holy See.

During the press conference Olara Otunnu, special representative of the secretary general for children and armed conflict, praised the Holy See for its "untiring commitment to the well-being of children" and reiterated his sentiments of sincere gratitude for the indispensable ministry of Catholic priests, religious and lay people who are most often "the first ones he meets on the ground, working to assist war-affected children."

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