In an answer to IKHRW’s correspondence with Elizabeth Decrey Warner, the former director of Geneva Call has said: “The organization has unfortunately stopped monitoring the engagement taken by armed groups in some cases”.
Iranian Kurdistan Human Rights Watch has sought extensively to come in contact with Geneva Call, the organization that has reached out to PJAK in 2015, and with whom it has signed a convention to the non-recruitment of minors.
Iranian Kurdistan Human Rights Watch is one of the many local actors that has tried to show the international community that PJAK (among other PKK affiliates) has continued – and continues – to recruit minors.
IKHRW has had the pleasure to correspond with the most respected ms. Elizabeth Decrey Warner, whose amazing work has prevented children from all over the world being recruited by armed groups.
Ms. Decrey Warner has been active for 18 years as Executive President and co-founder of Geneva Call, and has dedicated this time to actively pursue armed actors around the globe to commit to the non-recruitment of children
PJAK committed not to use children in hostilities
“The YRK–HPJ has admitted to having young combatants fighting in its ranks in the past; by signing this commitment it has publicly formalized its current policy of preventing children under 18 years old from taking part in hostilities and of protecting them from the effects of the armed conflict.”, reads the statement published in 2015 on Geneva Call’s website.
Unfortunately, the recruitment of minors has continued. Throughout the last three years, IKHRW has actively interviewed their families, investigated how they were recruited, and has sought to raise awareness for their plight.
IKHRW believes children under 18 should not be recruited by PJAK under any circumstances, as there is no way for them to ensure that all 16–۱۸-year-olds are separated and kept away from combat zones. PJAK’s bases in Iraqi Kurdistan are under continuous attack, and PJAK cannot provide for them to live and train separately in an urban area, as other military actors provide for their 16-18 year old recruits.
Decrey’s answer to IKHRW
IKHRW has had the pleasure to correspond with the most respected ms. Elizabeth Decrey Warner, whose amazing work has prevented children from all over the world being recruited by armed groups.
Ms. Decrey Warner has been active for 18 years as Executive President and co-founder of Geneva Call, and has dedicated this time to actively pursue armed actors around the globe to commit to the non-recruitment of children. Ms. Decrey Warner has become a respect, well-known figure in Kurdish politics.
“I have heard that in some cases the organization has unfortunately stopped monitoring the respect of the engagement taken by armed groups”, she stated.
“I have to inform you that I am no longer working with Geneva Call, for four years now. And I have no contacts with them any more.”
“The guardian of the signed Deeds of Commitment is the Canton of Geneva. I urge you to contact them.”
In her correspondence ms. Decrey-Warner has provided IKHRW with contact details of the tasked member in the Canton of Geneva.
We are very grateful for her help.
IKHRW will present the cases of underage PJAK recruits and the plight of their families to the guardian of the signed Deeds of Commitment.
