Monrovia, Liberia – November 18, 2024: Around the world, 400 million children grow up in conflict zones. Currently, 43.3 million children are forced to flee their homes, with 370,000 children in Liberia facing street situations. Families are torn apart, leaving children vulnerable to exploitation.

Armed conflicts inflict unimaginable hardships on children, robbing them of their childhoods, safety, and futures. Every day, countless children face violence, displacement, hunger, and a lack of basic rights and security. Many are forcibly removed from their homes and separated from their families. Their education, physical health, and mental well-being are at constant risk.

On November 19, the eve of World Children’s Day, children from Liberia and 37 other countries, including those in Asia, Europe, and the Americas, made a passionate call for peace that reached the United Nations through the campaign initiative ‘Stomping for Peace.’ This initiative urges world leaders to take action.

Children like Henriya, 15, from SOS Children’s Villages supported Hermann Gmeiner International School in Monrovia, sent a powerful message: “We are the most precious resources, and our futures should never be left to chance or circumstance.”

Michael, a 14-year-old boy from SOS Children’s Village Monrovia, adds, “We are calling on world leaders to prioritize the well-being of children and to stand with us in protecting and supporting us during times of crisis.”

Children Call for Action

Henriya and many other children urge leaders to urgently prioritize the protection and rights of children as a non-negotiable cornerstone of peace and stability. They call on governments to strengthen both national and international frameworks that protect children from violence and exploitation, especially in conflict zones — and to expand humanitarian support that allows children to grow, learn, and thrive even amidst crises.

“Children everywhere are deeply aware of how violence affects them and their peers,” says Dereje Wordofa, President of SOS Children’s Villages International.

The ‘Stomping for Peace’ campaign recommends the following actions for governments around the world:

–International Protection Protocols: Commitment to enforcing and upholding global child protection laws and policies, such as the Convention on the Rights of the Child, in areas affected by armed conflict.

– Humanitarian Assistance: Expand resources and humanitarian aid for children and families impacted by war, ensuring access to essentials like healthcare, shelter, nutrition, and education.

-Mental Health Support: Address the profound trauma faced by children in conflict and provide comprehensive mental health support and counseling.

-Peacebuilding and Reconciliation Efforts: Focused on de-escalation of the conflict, reconciliation, and peace. Engaging children and youth as central stakeholders in building peaceful futures.

Children around the world are calling for everyone to “stomp” against the injustices that continue to threaten young lives globally. “By amplifying our voices together, we can advocate for policies and resources that protect children from the devastation of conflict and exploitation, paving the way for a more peaceful and just future,” adds Joseph Joboe, Communications, Brand & Advocacy Coordinator for SOS Children’s Villages in Liberia.

Join the “Stomping for Peace” movement and advocate for the protection of children, especially those in conflict.

Visit our website www.sos-liberia.org to sign for peace, or use the hashtag #StompingForPeace on social media to share your voice. Together, we can create a wave of change that crosses borders and brings hope to millions of children affected by conflict worldwide.