Our Vision
A world where children are at the heart of peace and security.
Our Mission
To prevent the recruitment and use of children in armed violence and transform cycles of violence.
Our Story
Founder Roméo Dallaire is a humanitarian, author, retired senator, former Canadian Forces Lieutenant General, and former Force Commander of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Rwanda from 1993 to 1994. Lt. General (retired) Dallaire confronted the unthinkable during the genocide in Rwanda: children recruited and used to commit atrocities. Due to this experience, General Dallaire suffered moral and operational stress injuries which ultimately led to his life-long commitment to destigmatize post-traumatic stress disorders among veterans and end the recruitment and use of children worldwide.
General Dallaire founded the Child Soldiers Initiative in 2007 and Dalhousie University, located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, provided a home to the initiative in 2010. Since those early days, the organization has evolved extensively from a training development initiative to one that has applied research and learning that guides operational concepts and, at its core, contributes to a key gap in the peace and security architecture. In 2020, the Initiative became the Dallaire Institute for Children, Peace, and Security, an international repository of expertise, research and advocacy to prevent the recruitment and use of children in armed violence.
Our Work
The Dallaire Institute was created with the unique premise that preventing violence against children requires a dual lens approach. We are focused on prioritizing the protection of children, as well as understanding the significant operational impacts upon security sector actors.
Through innovative approaches to knowledge creation and dissemination, we bridge security and humanitarian perspectives and responses to create a holistic approach to the issues of children affected by armed violence. Drawing on our vast expertise and the breadth of perspectives of those with lived experience, we provide policy guidance, work to increase awareness and political will, build operational effectiveness in security institutions and engage communities.
Our staff includes senior researchers, military experts and trainers, adult learning specialists, and child protection and gender experts. Our critical research helps leaders around the world address policy gaps and understand the current and evolving risk factors that precede recruitment and the impacts of the use of children in violence. This research informs the development and delivery of scenario-based, prevention-oriented training to prepare military, police, and civilian personnel to prevent the recruitment and use of children in armed violence.
As co-developers and custodians of The Vancouver Principles on Peacekeeping and the Prevention of the Recruitment and Use of Child Soldiers, we advise governments and multilateral partners on integrating the Principles into security sector governance. The Institute also hosts a prestigious Tier 1 Canada Research Chair on International Peace, Security and Children and offers undergraduate and graduate courses that will lead to the creation of a certificate program on children, peace and security. Through academic and practitioner training, and community engagement, the Dallaire Institute’s interdisciplinary and applied research advances innovative strategies for preventing the recruitment and use of children in armed conflicts and violence. The Dallaire Institute is supported through private, public, and international contributions.
Learn more about our approach and where we work.