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<p>The Government is committed to ending the recruitment and use of child soldiers
and protecting children affected by armed conflict. Minister Shapps met with the UN
Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict at
the UN General Assembly in 2015 to demonstrate the UK’s engagement on this critical
issue. We also support international efforts, for example through the Common Humanitarian
Funds and the International Committee of the Red Cross, in conflict-affected and fragile
countries in Africa, to assist children, including those who have been members of
armed groups, and to reduce the risks of violence, exploitation, abuse, and neglect.
In the long-term children are best protected by peaceful, accountable states capable
of providing security and justice for all, access to basic services, and meeting the
needs of vulnerable groups. Building peaceful states and societies is the overarching
framework of our work in countries affected by conflict and fragility.</p><p>We also
recognise that education is important in order to prevent the recruitment of child
soldiers and reintegrate former child soldiers back into their communities. DFID is
one of the biggest bilateral donors to basic education in low income countries, especially
in Africa. Between 2010 and 2015 the UK Government supported 11 million children in
school across 21 countries; 7.5 million of them in countries considered to be fragile.
We have again pledged to support 11 million children with a decent education between
2015 and 2020.</p>
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