Child soldiers are one evil that is overlooked in the world. The lives of these children who take part in armed conflict are severely damaged both physically and emotionally. The use of children all over the world in armed conflict is particularly popular in Africa. Mostly rebel groups use children but also governments use children who are below 18 as soldiers of war.
Child soldiers are any children under the age of 18 who are recruited by a state or non-state armed group and used as fighters, cooks, suicide, bombers, human shield, messengers, spies, or for sexual purposes. Some children are under the age of 10 when they are forced to serve. Throughout history and in many cultures, children have been extensively involved in military campaigns even when such practices were against cultural morals.
In WW1, in Great Britain 250,000 boys under 19 managed to join the army. In WW2, child soldiers fought throughout Europe, in the Warsaw Uprising , in the Jewish resistance, and in the Soviet Army. Since the 1970’s, a number of international conventions have come into effect that try to limit the participation of children in armed conflicts, nevertheless the Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers reports that the use of children in military forces, and the active participation of children in armed conflicts is widespread.
According to Wessels (1997), “The use of children in armed conflict is global in scope—a far greater problem than suggested by the scant attention it has received. Child soldiers are found from Central America to the Great Lakes region of Central Africa.Children are easy targets to recruit for military purposes because of their vulnerability to influence. Many are seized and recruited by force whereas others join to escape their reality and circumstances.
Child Soldiers In Africa
The Cape Town Principles and Best Practices, adopted by the NGO Working Group on the Convention on the Rights of Children and UNICEF at a symposium on the prevention of
recruitment of children into the armed forces and on demobilization and social regeneration of child soldiers in Africa in April 1997, proposed that African Governments should adopt and ratify the Optional protocol on the involvement of children in armed conflict raising the minimum age from 15 to 18, and that African Governments should ratify and implement other pertinent treaties and incorporate them into national law. In 2004 one estimate put the number of children involved in armed conflict including combat roles at 100,000. In the end titles of the film Blood Diamond , it is claimed that “there are still 200,000 child soldiers in Africa”. Many of these children are “invisible children,” orphaned by AIDS (About 75%of infected people are in Africa), violence and war.
recruitment of children into the armed forces and on demobilization and social regeneration of child soldiers in Africa in April 1997, proposed that African Governments should adopt and ratify the Optional protocol on the involvement of children in armed conflict raising the minimum age from 15 to 18, and that African Governments should ratify and implement other pertinent treaties and incorporate them into national law. In 2004 one estimate put the number of children involved in armed conflict including combat roles at 100,000. In the end titles of the film Blood Diamond , it is claimed that “there are still 200,000 child soldiers in Africa”. Many of these children are “invisible children,” orphaned by AIDS (About 75%of infected people are in Africa), violence and war.
These children are as young as 7 years old and are reeled into conflict due to poverty, sold by their parents, kidnapped, or tricked intojoining. Organizations like Invisible Children and films like Invisible
Children: Rough Cut help to bring to light the use of child soldiers; Actress Kristen Bell has also been fighting for saving child soldiers through Invisible Children since its founding in 2004. by their
parents, kidnapped, or tricked into joining. Organizations like Invisible Children and films like Invisible Children: Rough Cut help to bring to light the use of child soldiers; Actress Kristen Bell has also been fighting for saving child soldiers through Invisible Children since its founding in 2004.
Children: Rough Cut help to bring to light the use of child soldiers; Actress Kristen Bell has also been fighting for saving child soldiers through Invisible Children since its founding in 2004. by their
parents, kidnapped, or tricked into joining. Organizations like Invisible Children and films like Invisible Children: Rough Cut help to bring to light the use of child soldiers; Actress Kristen Bell has also been fighting for saving child soldiers through Invisible Children since its founding in 2004.
AFRICAN COUNTRIES THAT USE/USED CHILD SOLDIERS
BURUNDI
In 2004 hundreds of child soldiers served in the Forces Nationales pour la Libération (FNL), an armed rebel Hutu group. Children between the ages of 10 and 16 were also conscripted by the Burundese military.
In 2004 hundreds of child soldiers served in the Forces Nationales pour la Libération (FNL), an armed rebel Hutu group. Children between the ages of 10 and 16 were also conscripted by the Burundese military.
Central African Republic
Between 2001 and 2003, children served in armed rebel groups, including the Union of Democratic Forces for Unity ( Union des Forces Démocratiques pour le Rassemblement , UFDR).
Between 2001 and 2003, children served in armed rebel groups, including the Union of Democratic Forces for Unity ( Union des Forces Démocratiques pour le Rassemblement , UFDR).
Chad
Child soldiers are fighting with the Chadian Military , integrated rebel forces – the United Front for Democratic Change ( Front Uni pour le Changement, FUC), local self-defense forces known as Tora Boro militias, and two Sudanese rebel movements operating in Chad – the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) and the G-19 faction of the Sudanese Liberation Army (SLA).
Child soldiers are fighting with the Chadian Military , integrated rebel forces – the United Front for Democratic Change ( Front Uni pour le Changement, FUC), local self-defense forces known as Tora Boro militias, and two Sudanese rebel movements operating in Chad – the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) and the G-19 faction of the Sudanese Liberation Army (SLA).
Cote d’Ivoire
During the 2002 civil war , “children were recruited, often forcibly, by both sides.”
During the 2002 civil war , “children were recruited, often forcibly, by both sides.”
D.R.C
A group of demobilized child soldiers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo Democratic Republic of Congo Main article: Child soldiers in the Democratic Republic of Congo Thousands of children serve in the military , as well as the various rebel militias. At the height of the Second Congo War , it has been estimated that more than 30,000 children were fighting with various parties to the conflict. It was claimed that the Lord’s Resistance Army recruited this number in the film Kony 2012 .
A group of demobilized child soldiers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo Democratic Republic of Congo Main article: Child soldiers in the Democratic Republic of Congo Thousands of children serve in the military , as well as the various rebel militias. At the height of the Second Congo War , it has been estimated that more than 30,000 children were fighting with various parties to the conflict. It was claimed that the Lord’s Resistance Army recruited this number in the film Kony 2012 .
Nowadays the Democratic Republic of Congo has one of the highest rates of child soldiers all over the world. The international court has taken part on the judgment of these practices during the war. Thomas Lubanga Dyilo, one of the warlords in the DRC has been charged with 14 years in prison because of the recruiting ofchild soldiers between 2002 and 2003. Lubanga directed the Union of Congolese Patriots and its armed wing Patriotic Forces for the Liberation of Congo. The children were forced to fight in the armed conflict of Ituri , located on the north-east of the country, a place with a high amount of mineral resources. This trial is the first of this kind and could set precedent legislation against these violations of human rights.
Rwanda
In 2002, child soldiers were used by Rwandan government forces and paramilitaries, operating within the Democratic Republic of Congo.
In 2002, child soldiers were used by Rwandan government forces and paramilitaries, operating within the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Sierra Leone
In Armies of the Young: Child Soldiers in War and Terrorism anthropologist David M. Rosen discusses the murders, rapes,tortures, and the thousands of amputations committed by the Small Boys Unit of the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) during Sierra Leone’s civil war (1991–2001.) Anotherbook describing the civil war is A Long Way Gone by Ishmael Beah . It describes the civil war from the view of Ishmael when he was forced to be a soldier. In popular culture, movies like “Blood Diamond” are set at the backdrop of the Civil War in Sierra Leone.
In Armies of the Young: Child Soldiers in War and Terrorism anthropologist David M. Rosen discusses the murders, rapes,tortures, and the thousands of amputations committed by the Small Boys Unit of the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) during Sierra Leone’s civil war (1991–2001.) Anotherbook describing the civil war is A Long Way Gone by Ishmael Beah . It describes the civil war from the view of Ishmael when he was forced to be a soldier. In popular culture, movies like “Blood Diamond” are set at the backdrop of the Civil War in Sierra Leone.
Somalia
A report published by Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers in 2004 estimated that since 1991,
200,000 children carried arms or had been recruited in the country’s militias against their will.
A report published by Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers in 2004 estimated that since 1991,
200,000 children carried arms or had been recruited in the country’s militias against their will.
Sudan
A child soldier of the Sudanese People’s Liberation Army (2007).”In March 2004, there were an estimated 17,000 children in government forces, allied militias and opposition armed groups in the north, east and south. Between 2,500 and 5,000 children served in the armed opposition group, the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA), in the south.Despite a widely publicised child demobilization program, in which it claimed to have demobilized over 16,000 children between 2001 and 2004, the SPLA continued to recruit and re-recruit child soldiers.In 2003 it was reported that armed groups were active in government armed forces, Janjaweed militias, and opposition groups. Former child soldiers were sentenced to death for crimes committed while they were soldiers.
A child soldier of the Sudanese People’s Liberation Army (2007).”In March 2004, there were an estimated 17,000 children in government forces, allied militias and opposition armed groups in the north, east and south. Between 2,500 and 5,000 children served in the armed opposition group, the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA), in the south.Despite a widely publicised child demobilization program, in which it claimed to have demobilized over 16,000 children between 2001 and 2004, the SPLA continued to recruit and re-recruit child soldiers.In 2003 it was reported that armed groups were active in government armed forces, Janjaweed militias, and opposition groups. Former child soldiers were sentenced to death for crimes committed while they were soldiers.
Uganda
Over the past twenty years, the rebel Lord’s Resistance Army has abducted more than 30,000 boys and girls as soldiers. Attacks against Uganda’s Acholi people have resulted in severe trauma to civilians from extreme violence and abduction. Girls are often forced to be sex slaves. The Uganda People’s Defence Force has recruited small numbers of children into its forces as young as 13, including Local Defense Units. In 22 April 2004, resolution 1539 was put in place by the United Nations Security Council When discussing children in armed conflict there is much information to
call upon.
Over the past twenty years, the rebel Lord’s Resistance Army has abducted more than 30,000 boys and girls as soldiers. Attacks against Uganda’s Acholi people have resulted in severe trauma to civilians from extreme violence and abduction. Girls are often forced to be sex slaves. The Uganda People’s Defence Force has recruited small numbers of children into its forces as young as 13, including Local Defense Units. In 22 April 2004, resolution 1539 was put in place by the United Nations Security Council When discussing children in armed conflict there is much information to
call upon.
Nicola Ansell who wrote “Children, Youth and Development” is the source for my information onchildren in armed conflict. Ansell explains that each child is affected in different ways, often worse than what adults experience. Traditionally societies have aimed to protect the child in war. In Uganda, the Acholi people would avoid attacking children in order to facilitate post-conflict reconciliation. According to the international law special treatment is given to children who are under 15 years of age; these children should not be illogically killed, maimed or tortured.
Children within these criteria should be given food and shelter and allowed to remain with their families if possible.There are cases when these children are intentionally targeted, used as human shields, or killed by terrorists. Roughly 90% of the victims of war are civilians, estimating half to be children. Children in war are often victim to accidental injury or untimely deaths as a result of their curiosity, land mines are an example of this, they are designed to injure adults but in fact they are the cause of death of roughly 10,000 children per year. However, the deaths usually occur long after the war is over. Children are not the target during a conflict, and if they are injured it usually by
accident, most children are “secondary victims” or “observers” subjected to damage of family property or death/injury to their kin leaving them orphans.
accident, most children are “secondary victims” or “observers” subjected to damage of family property or death/injury to their kin leaving them orphans.
Zimbabwe
The ZANU-PF government of Robert Mugabe at one point sponsored a “youth militia” the National Youth Service , members aged between 10–30 known as the “Green Bombers”
The ZANU-PF government of Robert Mugabe at one point sponsored a “youth militia” the National Youth Service , members aged between 10–30 known as the “Green Bombers”
Picture: http://www.blogs.unicef.org
Takunda Tinashe Gumbu 