Film on plight of child soldiers
2003-02-06 22:01
Freetown - Oscar-winning actor Michael Douglas wrapped up a trip to war-ravaged Sierra Leone on Wednesday, checking out vast stockpiles of surrendered arms and talking with victims of the ruthless 10-year conflict.
Douglas, also a UN peace envoy, is producing a film with the United Nations on the West African nation's child soldiers.
"I am impressed with how many kids are keen on getting back to school, in places really war-torn," Douglas said.
Sierra Leone is recovering from one of Africa's most brutal wars - one that saw tens of thousands killed, raped and maimed as rebels battled to gain control of the nation's diamond fields and government.
Sierra Leone authorities declared the war over in January 2002, after deployments by the United Nations, former colonial ruler Britain, and neighbouring Guinea finally broke the rebel movement.
Douglas arrived Saturday and has spent most of his time in the eastern, Kono diamond-mine district. His work is meant to show the wartime role of child soldiers, and their reintroduction back to their families and communities.
Kid soldiers
About 7 000 children left the battlefields when combatants in Sierra Leone's civil war started turning in their guns last year - the youngest ex-soldier, just 6 years old.
Released into the care of aid agencies, most spent months at centers designed to ease their way back into civilian life and are now reunited with relatives.
Earlier, Douglas was shown a large stockpile - remains of the 29 248 weapons collected under the U.N. disarmament, demobilization and reintegration program.
Douglas was appointed UN Messenger of Peace since 1998 - Sapa-AP
- SAPA