As part of a protest against child soldiers, members of Amnesty International ISU are taking a vow of silence today to make an impact on the Ames community.

Shanna Pitter, president of Amnesty International ISU, said the students who choose to participate in the silent protest will have their faces completely painted, while others who aren’t taking the vow of silence will have just a tear and the amnesty symbol of a candle painted on their faces.

“The face painting represents a sign of recognition and a silent protest of the horrible things these kids are being subjected to,” said Pitter, sophomore in meteorology.

Pitter said one example of the actions the children soldiers are forced to do is to shoot other children.

She said several countries, including Uganda, Sri Lanka, Colombia and Cambodia, have children soldiers.

Gary Comstock, adviser to Amnesty International ISU, said in some countries, children are being forced into military service at an age where Americans would not accept it.

“I think the major reason … it is important is that their work is on behalf of prisoners — prisoners who are in jail because of what they believe in,” Comstock said. “We try to intervene on our behalf with governments who are illegally imprisoning these people.”

The protest is just one of many actions Amnesty International ISU is taking during Student Action Against Child Soldiers Week.

A Candlelight Vigil will be held at 8 p.m. in front of Curtiss Hall. Amnesty International ISU is planning on a discussion of issues happening around the world, lighting of candles and a moment of silence for those whose rights are being violated.

Members also plan to explain their mission and how others can take a stand on human rights.

“We discuss the issues, write letters to either the embassy, prime minister, president of that country — sometimes the organization,” Pitter said.

Pitter said Amnesty ISU writes about eight to 10 letters a month, most of them with the same intentions of persuading the countries to stop the killing.

“We make sure they are aware of what is going on and that they are in violation of the declaration of human rights,” she said. “Sometimes we’ll tell them to investigate, but mainly to stop whatever they are doing.”

This semester alone, Amnesty International ISU members sent letters of concern to Saudi Arabia, areas of Russia and Africa, Mexico and the United States on topics ranging from unfair trials and the death penalty to kidnapping and killing.

“It’s making a difference in someone else’s life,” Pitter said. “You’re writing to help free them and give back their rights that were taken away.”

Anyone interested in joining Amnesty International ISU can contact Pitter at [email protected].