UEFA striving to raise awareness

Joint message
The competition, which features eight Under-17 teams from Europe and Africa, sees UEFA in partnership with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Egyptian Red Crescent (ERC) to issue a joint message: protect children in war.

'Specific rights'
"Child victims of conflict have specific rights - such as the right to be reunited with their families, the right to medical treatment and the right not to be enlisted into the armed forces before the age of 15," said the ICRC.

'First major event'
"The Meridian Cup is the first major event in the 'Children in War' campaign, which aims to raise public awareness of how children suffer in times of war and of the legal measures available to protect them. The tournament is the fruit of an ICRC/UEFA partnership that started in 1997 and includes the promotion of humanitarian themes at UEFA events."

'Unique opportunity'
The ICRC continued: "For the ICRC and the ERC, the Meridian Cup offers a unique opportunity to remind the world of the protection afforded to children by international law." UEFA has already given support to the ICRC's anti-land mine campaign, and has contributed more than €3.4m in support of ICRC humanitarian activities.