Nearly 60 nations have pledged not to use children in their armies. A document, called the Paris Commitments, was signed in France by 58 countries, including Sudan, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. These countries still hit the headlines for having child soldiers. Two states that the United Nations says uses child soldiers - Burma and the Philippines - did not attend the Paris meeting. All 27 nations of the European Union added their weight to the promise to help disarm and rehabilitate underage soldiers, and prevent their recruitment. The U.N. estimates a quarter of a million youngsters are involved in over a dozen conflicts worldwide. As well as fighting, the kids serve as spies and sexual slaves. Girls make up nearly 40 percent of some armed groups. Their families often reject them when they return home.
The agreement is not yet part of the laws of any of the 58 countries. However, it is an important step forward. France’s Foreign Minister said the document was more than just "good words." He insisted, "it is a text that will have great political value". A UNICEF spokesman stressed it is important that governments and not only NGOs are acting. The speaker who made the biggest impact in Paris was Ishmael Beah, a former child soldier in Sierra Leone. He picked up a gun when he was just 13, after his parents and brothers were killed in his country’s civil war. He is now 26 and lives in New York. He said: "Taking a gun and shooting someone was as easy as drinking a glass of water." He reminded the world that: "No one is born violent. No child in Africa, Latin America or Asia wants to be part of war."
1. TRUE / FALSE: Look at the article’s headline and guess whether these sentences are true (T) or false (F):
a. Every country has promised to end the use of child soldiers. T / F
b. Different nations signed a document in Uganda. T / F
c. A U.N. estimate believes 5 million children are fighting in conflicts. T / F
d. Forty percent of child soldiers in many armed groups are girls. T / F
e. The agreement is now law in 58 different countries. T / F
f. A UNICEF spokesperson was happy that governments were acting. T / F
g. An ex-child soldier gave a speech at the international meeting. T / F
h. The child soldier said it was easier to find a gun than find water. T / F
2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article:
a. pledged 1- ex-
b. commitments 2-put a stop to
c. rehabilitate 3-Wars
d. prevent 4-historic
e. conflicts 5-doing something
f. important 6-promises
g. insisted 7- promised
h. acting 8-brutal
i. former 9-stressed
j. violent 10-reintegrate
3. PHRASE MATCH: Match the following phrases from the article (sometimes more than one combination is possible):
a. Nearly 60 nations have pledged not 1- their weight to the promise
b. These countries still hit 2-laws of any of the 58 countries
c. nations of the European Union added 3-40 percent of some armed groups
d. youngsters are involved in over a 4-not only NGOs are acting
e. Girls make up nearly 5-drinking a glass of water
f. The agreement is not yet part of the 6-to use children in their armies
g. the document was more than 7-dozen conflicts worldwide
h. important that governments and 8-"No one is born violent”
i. shooting someone was as easy as 9-The headlines for having child soldiers
j. He reminded the world that 10-Just "good words."
GAP FILL: Put the words into the gaps in the text.
Nations pledge to end use of child soldiers
Nearly 60 nations have ________ not to use children in their armies. A document, called the Paris Commitments, was signed in France by 58 countries, including Sudan, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. These countries still ________ the headlines for having child soldiers. Two states that the United Nations says uses child soldiers - Burma and the Philippines - did not attend the Paris meeting. All 27 nations of the European Union added their ________ to the promise to help disarm and rehabilitate ________ soldiers, and prevent their ________. The U.N. estimates a quarter of a million youngsters are involved in over a dozen ________ worldwide. As well as fighting, the kids serve as spies and sexual ________. Girls make up nearly 40 percent of some armed groups. Their families often ________ them when they return home.


recruitment
weight
hit
conflicts
reject
pledged
slaves
underage

The agreement is not yet part of the laws of any of the 58 countries. However, it is an important step ________. France’s Foreign Minister said the document was more than just "good words." He insisted, "it is a ________ that will have great political ________ ". A UNICEF spokesman stressed it is important that governments and not only NGOs are acting. The speaker who made the biggest ________ in Paris was Ishmael Beah, a ________ child soldier in Sierra Leone. He picked up a gun when he was just 13, after his parents and brothers were killed in his country’s ________ war. He is now 26 and lives in New York. He said: "Taking a gun and shooting someone was as easy as drinking a glass of water." He ________ the world that: "No one is born ________. No child in Africa, Latin America or Asia wants to be part of war."
civil
text
reminded
value
former
forward
violent

The Truth Behind WTO (World Trade Organization)