The United States, in making the following pledges on the occasion of the Winnipeg International Conference on War-Affected Children, highlights its commitment to protecting and assisting child victims of complex humanitarian emergencies, war and other conflict. The pledges reflect many initiatives and programs already sponsored by the United States. At the same time, they indicate ways in which the various funding agencies of the U.S. government hope to build on existing programs and strive to make the various United States efforts more timely, more effective, and better targeted at the unique needs of children affected by war and conflict. Our pledges and policies aim to bring dignified, effective assistance to all needy victims, regardless of geographic or national location, and according to internationally accepted standards.

Refugee Children: The U.S. government pledges to build on its close cooperation with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNRCR), both in providing leadership to the humanitarian community in assisting refugee children and in supporting programs which protect and assist refugee children, particularly those such as child soldiers, who are victims of conflict.

Adolescent Children: The United States, recognizing the special needs of adolescent children and their particular vulnerability to the effects of war and conflict, will support new approaches to meeting their special needs with appropriate programming in such areas as education, training, the creation of employment opportunities, and enhancement of social engagement and community action.

Demining: The United States will continue to devote significant resources to humanitarian demining, mine training, mine awareness, and prosthetic and rehabilitation programs in more than 40 countries worldwide. One focus of U.S. programming will be mine awareness, which is especially important in protecting children from the danger of anti-personnel land mines. The United States pledges ongoing commitment, including funding, to President Clinton's "Demining 2010 Initiative," whose goal is the creation of a mine safe world by 2010.

Psychological and Educational Needs of Children in Conflict: Recognizing pervasive shortcomings in meeting the psychosocial and educational needs of children in conflict, the U.S. pledges to work with international humanitarian response organizations and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to support concerted efforts to review best practices in field experience, to develop research-based methods of assessment and evaluation, and to design effective programs for timely and comprehensive responses.

Separated Children and Child Soldiers: The United States, in continuing its programmatic commitment to the reintegration of child soldiers into civilian society, pledges to work actively with both International Organization and NGO partners to develop innovative, effective approaches to providing children with the social, psychological, educational and medical support they need to resume their lives and develop into productive, secure members of their communities.

Girl Children Affected by Conflict: The United States, recognizing the special vulnerability of girl children in conflict, pledges to continue funding programs that directly assist war and conflict-affected girls, as well as more broadly-targeted programs in areas such as reproductive health that also serve needy girls. The United States has pledged $1 million per year for four years (through Fiscal Year 2004) to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) for programs to assist women and girls affected by conflict. The U.S. Congress has directed the spending of $1 million per year for two years (FY 2000-2001) on programs to counter sexual and gender-based violence.