‘Without serious attention to this issue the credibility of the international child protection system will suffer. We hope that the landmark ruling of the International Criminal Court in the Thomas Lubanga case sent a clear signal that grave violations will not remain unpunished.’

So write Catherine Ashton, High Representative  of the European Union for Foreign Affairs & Security Policy, and Leila Zerrougui, the Special Representative of the U.N. Secretary-General on Children & Armed Conflict,  in a joint statement. They published their message today because it’s the annual International Day against the Use of Child Soldiers, also known as Red Hand Day.