Red Hand Day is observed by raising awareness by conducting events for the children who serve forcefully as soldiers. The observance takes place on February 12 every year. In armed groups, they work in suicide missions, as spies, lookouts, and messengers. Thousands of child soldiers serve in armed groups without any security. Many former child soldiers also participate in this day to spread awareness. Along with these handprints, children add personal messages about stopping this child abuse. During Red Hand Day celebrations, children paint their hands red and make handprints on paper. The date indicates the day that the OPAC treaty came into force.

Red Hand Day is observed to bring attention to this issue and encourage stopping the recruitment of children for military purposes. Not only boys are at risk but girls also. Under inhuman circumstances, many child soldiers die or become traumatized or blind, but some are able to survive. Often children who have grown up in fighting zones join in to have a better chance of survival. The majority of children in the armed force are between 15 and 18 years old, but some have nine-year-old child soldiers fighting. Many child soldiers are forcefully recruited and cannot leave their unit. However, many armed forces still recruited and used child soldiers. It was accepted by about 150 governments. Coalition partners announced Red Hand Day by organizing events using a red hand, painted by children. On February 12, 2002, the Optional Protocol outlawed the enforced recruitment for the participation of adolescents and children below 18 years. Who started Red Hand Day?Д¬oalition partners declared February 12, 2002, as Red Hand Day. On February 12, 2002, the ban of using child soldiers forced Coalition partners to declare the day as Red Hand Day by organizing events for awareness about child recruitment using the image of red hands. Youth, students, and children affected by the conflict of an army, and groups of civil society and community all around the world observe and participate in the campaign. Keep reading this article to know more about the history of this day, its significance, where it is observed, who the people are that initiated this day, and more interesting facts! To stop the abuse of children, join in the observance of Red Hand Day. Observing Red Hand Day will give us the opportunity to raise global awareness about children who are forced to fight as soldiers.Д¬hild soldiers are used in combat roles in the following 17 countries: Afghanistan, Burma, Colombia, India, Iraq, Nepal, Philippines, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Thailand, Uganda. Red Hand Day is observed as a campaign launched for stopping adolescents and child recruitment in armed conflicts. These children are tormented and often former child soldiers require protection, care, and political asylum. About 10-30% of these child soldiers are girls. This is why the armed forces and the governments of some countries are able to recruit children to the forces. In other words, children can't always distinguish between right and wrong or understand real dangers. UNICEF says that the successful recruitment of child soldiers is due to their diminished capacity to distinguish between adventurous games and reality. Six grave violations against children include maiming and killing of children, recruitment and abuse of children in armed groups and armed forces, child abduction, sexual violence against children, denial of humanitarian access for children, and attack against hospitals and schools. No health care or security is provided, while they run the risk of encountering landmines, ambush, or gunfire. They will often work as soldiers in the armed movement without any security and protection, and sometimes without drinking water and food.

In many armed conflicts, children are required to participate. February 12 of every year is observed as Red Hand Day.

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