U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), Chairman of the House International Relations Africa, Global Human Rights and International Operations Subcommittee, today urged greater U.S. and international involvement in ending the brutal conflict that has killed thousands and displaced millions in northern Uganda and a halt to the use of child soldiers in that conflict and others around the world.

    "The international community must engage now in the shaky peace process in Uganda. We cannot afford to allow the greatest chance for ending this conflict slip away,” said Smith, who also serves as co-chair of the Congressional Uganda Caucus.

    Smith made his remarks at a press conference in conjunction with Northern Uganda Lobby Day, where over 700 citizens from 40 states across America visited Congressional offices to push for action toward peace in northern Uganda. Former chief peace mediator Betty Bigombe, Ugandan Paramount Chief Rwot Acana and former abducted child soldier Grace Akallo were among the other participants in the press conference on Capitol Hill. 

    For nearly 20 years, conflict between the government of Uganda and a terrorist organization, the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), has gripped northern Uganda. This brutal conflict has displaced more than 1.8 million people, caused skyrocketing HIV and AIDS rates, and is costing more than $100 million per year. A historic cease-fire was reached in August and peace talks between the Government of Uganda and the LRA are currently taking place in southern Sudan. However, those talks are in danger of collapsing without increased international support. 

    “The once great optimism for a final end to this conflict is quickly dissipating. And with each passing day, more lives are put in danger. The U.S. must be more visible in helping to bring this terrible and despicable war to an end,” said Smith.

    War continues to be waged in Uganda by these abducted children who have been turned into “kill or be killed” mercenaries. Children, afraid to sleep in their own beds for fear of being abducted, become “night commuters,” walking miles to cities and protected camps to sleep. 

    The State Department has designated the LRA as a terrorist organization since December 2001. Because more than 80 percent of the LRA’s ranks are composed of abducted children, its troops are simultaneously hostages and terrorists. This presents a unique and delicate situation for the international community. The leadership of the LRA must be pursued and treated as terrorists, while the abducted soldiers within its ranks must be addressed as hostages and innocent children.

    “The use of abducted children to serve as soldiers and concubines unfortunately continues around the world today, and is perhaps nowhere more visible than Joseph Kony’s use of children in his terrorist assault on the Acholi people. I have a bill that not only calls for sanctions on governments that use children under the age of 16 in armed forces, but also urges more aggressive action against rebel and irregular forces, like the LRA, that utilize child soldiers,” said Smith, referring to his legislation, the “Child Soldier Prevention Act of 2006” (H.R. 5966). 

    Along with the punitive measures, the “Child Soldier Prevention Act of 2006” also expands psychological services for the children recovered from forced duty as child soldiers.

    “Passage of this legislation is imperative given the potential return of thousands of former child soldiers in northern Uganda. It is my intention to press for passage of the ‘Child Soldier Prevention Act of 2006’ when we return to Washington in November,” said Smith.