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Child Soldiers in Colombia: Action Needed

In Being a World Citizen, Children's Rights, Conflict Resolution, Current Events, Human Rights, Humanitarian Law, Latin America, NGOs, Nonviolence, Peacebuilding, Solidarity, The Search for Peace, Track II, United Nations on February 18, 2026 at 8:00 AM

By René Wadlow

The Association of World Citizens (AWC) has worked actively in the United Nations (UN) human rights bodies against the use of child soldiers in armed conflicts. The Association has also made direct Appeals to governments and militias that use child soldiers.

During the Iran-Iraq war (1980-1985) tens of thousands of Iranian youth, tied into groups to prevent their escape, threw themselves onto barbed wire or walked straight into Iraqi mine fields and faced machine gun fire. In at least twenty-one armed conflicts in different parts of the world, child soldiers have been used.

(C) International Crisis Group

February 12 has been set by the UN General Assembly as the International Day Against the Use of Child Soldiers. Thus, the Association of World Citizens along with the International Crisis Group with its headquarters in Belgium focused on the use of youth by militias, often involved in the drug trade, in Colombia where youth are forced into militias. There had been in 2016 a ceasefire agreement between the government of Colombia and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), the largest of the armed groups active in the country. This agreement has led many of those in the FARC ranks to be integrated into civil society. However, smaller armed groups have continued to be active. They are often involved in the drug trade as a way to finance their activities.

Thus, strong social action is needed, especially in those parts of the country inhabited by indigenous populations. Events in Venezuela also have an impact on Colombia and thus merit watching closely.

Prof. René Wadlow is President of the Association of World Citizens.

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USA-Iran Tensions Increase: Negotiations Needed

In Being a World Citizen, Conflict Resolution, Current Events, Democracy, Middle East & North Africa, NGOs, Nonviolence, Peacebuilding, Solidarity, The Search for Peace, Track II, United States on January 30, 2026 at 12:10 PM

By René Wadlow

A new phase of tensions between the USA and the Islamic Republic of Iran is unfolding, shaped by external military pressure from the USA and internal, political, and economic instability within Iran. Iranian security forces’ lethal response to demonstrations with civilian deaths and mass arrests has further eroded public trust in the Iranian leadership.

United States (U.S.) President Donald Trump has announced that an armada led by the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln is moving toward Iran. The U.S. Air Force has reported that its exercises across the Middle East indicates its readiness and escalation dominance. Tehran can retaliate with missile strikes – alone or through proxies – against U.S. bases in the Middle East. The situation is unstable and thus vulnerable to accidents and miscalculations.

(C) BBC News

It is said that indirect mediation efforts are being undertaken by diplomats from Türkiye, Egypt, and Qatar. The next few days may be crucial. Nongovernmental organizations may have a role to play in encouraging negotiations in good faith.

Prof. René Wadlow is President of the Association of World Citizens.

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UN Focus on the Crushing of Iran Protests 

In Being a World Citizen, Current Events, Human Rights, Middle East & North Africa, NGOs, Nonviolence, Peacebuilding, Solidarity, The Search for Peace, United Nations, Women's Rights on January 26, 2026 at 7:41 AM

By René Wadlow

On January 23, 2026, the 47 members of the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council met in Geneva, Switzerland in a Special Session devoted to the violent repression of protests in the Islamic Republic of Iran. The session began with a call by Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, for the release of detainees, a halt to the implementation of death sentences, and the adoption of serious steps in response to human rights violations. He stressed that “these protests are the latest in a long line of heartfelt calls by the Iranian people for change, met by a long line of violent repression by the Iranian authorities”.

Ms. Mai Sato, the UN Special Rapporteur on Iran, highlighted the large number of protesters killed, including youth and children.  She called upon the authorities of Iran to act in compliance with international human rights standards. She voiced alarm about “the unprecedented scale of the violent crackdown on peaceful protesters by security forces”.

(C) OHCHR

A number of government representatives noted the difficulties of following the current situation due to the cutting of the Internet and other forms of communication.

The Iranian Ambassador, Ali Bahreini, said that the Special Session of the Council had been “politicized” and that Iran rejected the discussion as “external interference in internal affairs”.

Iceland’s Ambassador, Einar Gunnarsson, presented the resolution of the Session saying that “the victims and survivors deserve truth, justice, and accountability”. The resolution which extends the mandate for two years of the UN Fact-Finding Mission, first established after the 2022 protests, was accepted with 25 States in favor, 7 against (China, India, Pakistan, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cuba, Iraq) and 14 abstentions.

From an NGO’s point of view (C) Assia Tanner/AWC

Assia Tanner, Representative for Diplomatic Relations at the Geneva Office of the Association of World Citizens (AWC), attended the session on our behalf. “Demonstrating is a human right, yet the regime has killed demonstrators and hanged innocent Iranians, resorting to the death penalty which is a serious human rights violation”, she reported. “The UN asked Iran to respect human rights, engage in dialogue, end the violence, and stop terrorizing the population. While The Netherlands called the Iranian regime a terrorist state, some Arab countries called for dialogue as they fear consequences from Tehran. Some African countries called for peaceful support instead of a formal condemnation.”

Nonetheless, the general feeling was definitely one of outrage. “In a session that lasted from 2PM to 6PM with no break whatsoever, all Council members were saying the same thing: Iran must be condemned”, Tanner added. “I felt they were holding the same discourse as all human rights organizations”.

Precisely, Nongovernmental Organizations (NGOs) now have the difficult task of calling on the Iranian government to stop arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances, and extrajudicial killings. The situation in Iran must be watched as closely as possible and encouragement given to good faith negotiations.

Prof. René Wadlow is President of the Association of World Citizens.

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