Special to The Hays Daily News

American Democracy Project and the Global Leadership Project at Fort Hays State University will host Red Hand Day from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday in the Memorial Union Lobby.

Red Hand Day brings awareness to child soldiers and urges the governments of countries such as Chad, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan and Yemen to ratify the optional protocol.

Red Hand Day was started in Germany and now is a campaign throughout the world. It usually takes place Feb. 12, as on that date in 2002, the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict became legally binding.

FHSU students, faculty and staff, and the community are invited to paint their hand red, place it on a paper and write a note. Participants can sign letters urging governments to sign or ratify the optional protocol. Letters also can be sent to United States senators and representatives to urge the end of blanket waivers of military aid to countries who still have child soldiers.

The American Democracy Project is focused on getting students civically engaged on campus and wants students to be informed about current events. The Global Leadership Project is focused on bringing positive change globally.

"I had learned about the event as a freshman and wanted to bring this event to campus to inform students of this issue and what students can do to try to bring change to the situation," said Jen Verhagen, student coordinator of ADP.

For more information, contact the American Democracy Project or Global Leadership Project at adp@fhsu.edu or (785) 628-5399.