At the local level, Voice of Children helps establish and develop independent local radio programmes and stations in conflict-affected countries. At the international level, the programme develops, produces, and airs programmes specifically addressing war-affected children with the collaboration of international broadcasting companies. Such programmes could also be distributed to local networks.
In Sierra Leone in particular, the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) Radio and the Centre for Media Training & Technology have embarked on programmes that are designed to benefit war-affected children. Plans are underway to provide training and to facilitate the local production of programmes in the countries in which on-site assessments have taken place. An official launch took place in February, 2003. During the ceremony, children performed an interactive skit entitled, "This Is Why We Need a Voice." A showing of a film portraying Sierra Leonean children talking about their experiences during the war and their aspirations for the future, as well as their participation in the project, preceded a media encounter during which the children posed questions on child protection issues.
Children, Conflict, Rights.
Letters sent from Sarah McNeill to The Communication Initiative on October 10, 2002 and to The Young People's Media Network on March 13, 2003; Second Annual Report presented to the UN in October 1999 at the 54th Session of the General Assembly (para. 59/p. 11); Third Annual Report presented to the UN in October 2000 at the 55th Session (para. 136/p. 26); Fourth Annual Report presented to the UN in October 2001 at the 56th Session (para. 66/p. 13); and Voice of Children page on the Children and Armed Conflict site.
