Nicholas Cage and wife Alice.
NEW YORK : Oscar-winning actor Nicolas Cage has donated US$2
million to establish a fund for former child soldiers, Amnesty
International announced Wednesday.
The money will be used for rehabilitation shelters, medical
services and psychological and reintegration services for children
forced to take part in armed conflicts world-wide, the human rights
monitor said.
"Nicolas has worked tirelessly to raise awareness about the horrors
faced by child soldiers and other human rights tragedies," Amnesty
USA's executive director Larry Cox. "We commend his efforts and
appreciate his generosity."
In a video statement to be played to a formal press briefing in New
York on Wednesday, Cage explained the reason for his
donation.
"Think about the nine months it took for your child to be born;
think about all the care you put into teaching him how to cross the
street and look both ways or to read a book or to simply have good
manners," the actor said.
"Then imagine a warlord dropping a gun into his hand and forcing
him to kill someone," he added.
According to Amnesty, an estimated 300,000 children under the age
of 18 are currently participating in armed conflicts in more than
30 countries on nearly every continent.
While most child soldiers are in their teens, some are as young as
seven years old. AFP/yy