Weapons of War: Child Soldiers

Although this problem is most critical in Africa, where children as young as nine have been involved in armed conflicts, children are also used as soldiers in various Asian countries and in parts of Latin America, Europe and the Middle East. The majority of the world's child soldiers are involved in a variety of armed political groups. These include government-backed paramilitary groups, militias and self-defence units operating in many conflict zones. Others include armed groups opposed to central government rule, groups composed of ethnic religious and other minorities and clan-based or factional groups fighting governments and each other to defend territory and resources. Most child soldiers are aged between 14 and 18.

While many enlist “voluntarily", research shows that such adolescents see few alternatives to involvement in armed conflict. Some enlist as a means of survival in war-torn regions after family, social and economic structures collapse or after seeing family members tortured or killed by government forces or armed groups. Others join up because of poverty and lack of work or educational opportunities. Many girls have reported enlisting to escape domestic servitude, violence and sexual abuse. Forcible abductions, sometimes of large numbers of children, continue to occur in some countries. Children as young as nine have been abducted and used in combat.

Demobilization, disarmament and reintegration (DDR) programs specifically aimed at child soldiers have been established in many countries, both during and after armed conflict and have assisted former child soldiers to acquire new skills and return to their communities. However, the programs lack funds and adequate resources. Sustained long-term investment is needed if they are to be effective. Despite growing recognition of girls' involvement in armed conflict, girls are often deliberately or inadvertently excluded from DDR programs. Girl soldiers are frequently subjected to rape and other forms of sexual violence as well as being involved in combat and other roles. In some cases they are stigmatized by their home communities when they return. DDR programs should be sensitively constructed and designed to respond to the needs of girl soldiers.

1 comment:

Eliza Isa said...

In war torn countries, child soldiers, although not properly trained and not combat fit, they add to the total number of soldiers, thereby increasing firepower and act as a form of deterrence. Furthermore, it is a means of protecting the ideology of a certain group of people.
When there are no more soldiers, there will be no army, therefore, children are used to replace fallen soldiers in the battlefield. Since there cannot be peace, people accept reality and do what is necessary to win, no matter what the cost.