What are child Soldiers
"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 shields, messengers, spies, or for sexual purposes."
The number of child soldiers currently serving around the world is very hard to calculate but it is estimated to be
250, 000 - 300, 000. That is 300, 000 children who have lost their childhood, their future ambitions, and their sense of what they can truly achieve. 40% of these children are girls and some are under 10 years old !
The number of child soldiers currently serving around the world is very hard to calculate but it is estimated to be
250, 000 - 300, 000. That is 300, 000 children who have lost their childhood, their future ambitions, and their sense of what they can truly achieve. 40% of these children are girls and some are under 10 years old !
Who are the child soldiers
Child soldiers are usually recruited, meaning the are forced against their will. The recruits come from poor, displaced families that have limited access to education and live in a combat zone. Some villages are required to volunteer a certain number of children to keep their village safe from attack. Sometimes children will volunteer for the food, income, and security or from social, political, and economic pressure. Even if the children volunteer to fight and decide they no longer want to continue they are not allowed to leave. Once they have joined they stay until they die. The authorities will force them to stay using torture, drugs and intimidation.
What are child soldiers used for
Many child soldiers are put at the front as fighters. They are told to kill their parents and siblings, assault their neighbours, and torch their own villages. Many others are used for everyday purposes that the authorities don't want to do such as to cook and clean. Others are killed as human shields and suicide bombers. Finally others, often girls, are used as "wives" for the boys that were recruited and are sexually abused.
Why are child soldiers used
Children are often forced into the military because they are too young mentally and physically to retaliate. They are too young to resist and understand how brutal the military truly is. Children are easy to abduct and can be easily tortured and intimidated. The changes in technology, causing weapons to be lightweight and simple to use, have drastically increased the number of child soldiers. Large men are no longer needed to operate the equipment. Children are also used because they are not paid and they require less clothing and food than adults. The men in charge are cowards. It is easier for them to throw children into battle then to fight themselves.
When are child soldiers being used
Now! Child soldiers are used everyday around the world. They are abused, tortured, intimidated, raped, and killed. In this day and age this should not be happening to children, yet everday more children are forced to be child soldiers.