It will have been worth it for the betterment of humanity and the protection of our youth. Please note: This action will also remove this member from your connections and send a report to the site admin. Please allow a few minutes for this process to complete. By Anne-Lynn Dudenhoefer. Share on facebook. Share on twitter. Share on linkedin. Share on whatsapp. Share on email. August 16, Child Soldiers. Offering analytical insight into the troubling phenomenon of underage combatants being deployed in volatile conflict environments.
The Reasons for Recruitment The benefits of recruiting child soldiers seem to be concealed when first approaching the topic. If parents, family and friends are lost, children might: …transfer loyalty to another adult, especially one who holds the power of reward and punishment.
Forced Recruitment Abduction is the most common method by which child soldier recruitment takes place. In short, there are two primary ways children can become child soldiers: they are abducted, or conscripted through coercion or severe threats; or they are born into forces or groups. Conclusion Now the question is whether we will commit ourselves to the protection of our most precious heritage, our children.
But, Dallaire reminds us to remain indefatigably positive and steadfast in our quest to end the recruitment of child soldiers: …but so what if we have to battle? Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh Press, p. Drumbl, Mark A. Oxford: Oxford University Press, p. Collier, Paul et al. Journal of Peace Research , 45 4 , p. Sanin, Francisco G.
In Gates, Scott and Reich, Simon eds op. London: Arrow Books, p. London: Harvard University Press, p. Singer, P. London: C. Policy Sciences , 30, p. Wessels, Michael op. Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers op. Hauge, Wenche Girl Soldiers in Guatemala. New York: Palgrave MacMillan, p. Andvig, Jens C.
Lischer, Sarah K. Achvarina, Vera and Reich, Simon op. Gates, Scott and Reich, Simon op. From affected communities to central governments and UN Headquarters, resources must be prioritised to facilitate the protection and release of children and crucially, deliver sustainable support for those freed.
There has been positive news in recent months. Yet much more work is needed. As countless more children escape armed groups and armed forces independently, that percentage is likely to be much lower. Yet to reverse these trends, measures must be taken to improve prevention and assistance at the community level.
Ultimately, families and communities are on the front line of prevention and cure, and our efforts must be driven by affected communities and their returning children — it cannot be a one-size-fits-all approach.
In doing so, we will be more effective in preventing future recruitment and giving formerly associated children the opportunity to move forward with their lives. According to the Paris Principles on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict , a child associated with an armed force State military or security force or armed group non-State actors with arms engaged in conflict refers to any person below 18 years of age who is, or who has been, recruited or used by an armed force or armed group in any capacity, including, but not limited to children, boys and girls, used as fighters, cooks, porters, spies or for sexual purposes.
Although child soldiers are often forcefully recruited, in a number of armed conflicts it is common for boys and girls to be "pushed" to join an armed force or group, out of fear, coerced, or when left with few other choices.
During times of protracted violence, when families are internally displaced or have to cross borders as refugees, communities are attacked, destroyed or occupied, or as families are internally displaced, their lives become chaotic and disruptive.
This chaos can result in separation between family members, including children from their parents. The delicate networks that once offered protection and support to families are often irreparably damaged. This separation leaves children without any means of safety or security, so they choose to become child soldiers as a form of protection.
In situations areas of armed conflict, education facilities and personnel routinely face attack. Schools often face interruptions or close entirely. Where families are displaced by conflict, access to education may be even more limited or non-existent. We commissioned interviews with children affected by armed conflict, and found that when girls and boys can no longer safely access learning, they can begin to feel there is no hope for a job opportunity when they are older or for the future.
For child soldiers, personal financial or familial economic situations rank high as a reason to join. When food and other resources become scarce, the alluring promise of barracks that offer a warm bed and readily available food is difficult to resist. Conflict can destroy local economies and livelihoods. When families suffer loss of income, the pressure to survive can push parents and caregivers to urge their children to join an armed group — as a hope for the child to be fed by the group or earn an income to contribute to the family.
In times of uncertainty or displacement due to armed conflict, children often leave school, their homes, villages and even countries. These circumstances can lead to a sense of isolation. Joining an armed group and becoming a child soldier provides a sense of identity in that they now belong to a community, despite the level of risk and violence a child often knows they will experience.
Community members often feel pressure, or may even want, to play their part. As a result, elders, leaders, families or parents can pressure children to join an armed group — to gain protection, or to support a cause. As well, other family members may already be involved in a conflict situation and children will recognise this as an opportunity for deeper connection.
Although there are tens of thousands of boys and girls who have been recruited as child soldiers, statistics are difficult to come by. The exact number is unknown as most data dates back nearly two decades. However, we do know that:.
While the physical effects of being a child soldier are varied, the horrors of armed conflict leave long-lasting psychological, sociological and emotional effects on girls and boys. As a child soldier, girls and boys will be forced to take actions and experience things in a way that denies their childhood and forces adulthood — actions and experiences that can lead psychological trauma for any individual, including adults.
Children will often require substantial mental health and psychosocial support upon exiting an armed force or group, due to the violence they may participate in or witness, directly or indirectly. Child soldiers can be ostracised by their parents, caregivers, families and communities, depending on the situation of their recruitment and their actions during the conflict.
It is common to experience extreme forms of stigma that cut these children off from reuniting with their families and reintegrating back into society later.
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