Child soldier presentation

IF CHILDREN LIVE WITH CRITICISM THEY LEARN TO CONDEMN

IF CHILDREN LIVE WITH HOSTILITYTHEY LEARN TO FIGHT

IF CHILDREN LIVE WITH RIDICULE THEY LEARN TO BE SHY

IF CHILDREN LIVE WITH SHAME THEY LEARN TO FEEL GUILTY

CHILD SOLDIERS IN LTTE

PRESENTED BYFLT LT WPAH PERERA

3. ORIGIN OF CHILD CADRES

4. KEY FACTORS TO BECOME A CHILD SOLDIER

5. TRAINING AND LIFE OF CHILD SOLDIERS

6. MEASURES TAKEN TO REHABILITATE AND STOP FURTHER RECRUITMENT

7. FINDINGS OF THE STUDY

8. RECOMMENDATIONS

9. CONCLUSION

1. INTRODUCTION

2. AIM

PRESENTATION FLOW

INTRODUCTION

• A CHILD SOLDIER IS ANY PERSON UNDER THE AGE OF 18 ENGAGED IN DEADLY VIOLENCE OR COMBAT SUPPORT

• THE USE OF CHILDREN IN COMBAT ACTIVITIES ISREVOLTING

• RECRUITING AND MAINTAINING CHILDREN IS COSTEFFECTIVE

• GROOMING CHILDREN INTO BECOMING SOLDIERS ISNOT DIFFICULT

• DUE TO LESS EXPERIENCE, EMOTIONAL IMMATURITY AND HIGH IGNORANCE, THEY ARE HIGHLY VULNERABLE TO MANIPULATION

AIM

AIM OF THIS PRESENTATION IS TO GIVE A BRIEF IDEA ABOUT THE ORIGIN OF CHILDSOLDIERS, FACTORS EFFECTED FOR CHILDREN TO JOIN LTTE, TRAINING LIFE,MEASURES TAKEN TO REHABILITATE, STOP FURTHER RECRUITMENT AND TODISCUSS THE RECOMMENDATIONS,RESULTS OBTAINED FROM THE STUDY

ORIGIN OF

CHILD CADRES

KEY FACTORS TO BECOME A CHILD SOLDIER

• SEPARATED FROM PARENTS DURINGDISPLACEMENT AND UNABLE TO TRACE PARENTS

• PARENTS KILLED OR ONE IS REMAINING

• PARENTS HAVE LOST THEIR LIMBS AND THERE ARE NO BREAD WINNERS IN THE FAMILY

• PARENTS ARE IN DETENTION OR IMPRISONMENT

• ECONOMIC DISRUPTION DUE TO WAR, RESULTED IN STARVATION AND MALNUTRITION

• WITNESS TO DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTIES AND MEANS OF LIVING

• LACK OF INCOME GENERATING OPPORTUNITIES

• DESTRUCTION OF EDUCATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND DEPRIVATION OFEDUCATION

• LACK OF RECREATIONAL AND ENTERTAINMENT FACILITIES

• LACK OF VOCATIONAL OR OTHER SKILL DEVELOPMENT FACILITIES RESULTING IN NO AMBITION

• ARRANGE MARRIAGES

“About ten days before the day of the marriage, I started to plan to leave the house, I waited, Tried to convince my parents,they were very adamant and would notlisten to me. They never listened. The day before the marriage everything was ready. I ran away to escape a marriage which I did not like. I ended in LTTE”

-A Girl Child Soldier

TRAINING AND LIFE OF CHILD SOLDIERS

A TRAINING DAY OF A CHILD SOLDIER

0500-0600 HRS MORNING ABLUTIONS

0600-0700 HRS PHYSICAL TRAINING

0700-0800 HRS BREAKFAST

0800-1200 HRS DEMANDING PHYSICAL EXERCISE

1230-1330 HRS LUNCH

1330-1600 HRS TRAINING ON SPECIAL SKILLS

1600-1630 HRS TEA

1630-1800 HRS PARADE

1800-1830 HRS GATHER TO SAY OATH

2000 HRS SENT TO BED

MEASURES TAKEN TO REHABILITATE AND STOP FURTHER RECRUITMENT

• CHILD RIGHTS TRAINING• MONITORING AND PREVENTION OF VIOLATION OF CHILD RIGHTS

• MICRO-CREDIT FACILITIES AND INCOME GENERATION

• VOCATIONAL TRAINING

• EDUCATION

• HEALTH AND NUTRITION

• PROVISION OF SOCIAL WORK

• PROVISION OF PSYCHO-SOCIAL CARE

FINDINGS OF THE STUDY

1. 20% OF THE YOUNG COMBATANTS WERE BETWEEN THE AGES OF 10-14 DURING RECRUITMENT

2. 60% OF THE DEAD LTTE FIGHTERS ARE UNDER 18 AND ARE MOSTLY GIRLS AND BOYS AGED 10-16

3. MANY YOUNG FIGHTERS ALTHOUGH INSTRUCTED TO TAKE CYANIDECAPSULES DID NOT WANT TO DO SOBECAUSE THEY WANTED TO LIVE

4. MANY YOUNG CHILDREN WERE RECRUITED AGAINST THEIR WISHES AND MADE TO BELIEVE THAT THEY WERE FIGHTING FOR A CAUSE WHENIN FACT THEY DID NOT KNOW THE REAL TRUTH

5. CHILDREN SERVE LTTE IN SUPPORTING ROLES AS COOKS (SPECIALLY GIRLS), MESSENGERS, SPIES AND AS SUICIDE BOMBERS AND ARE DEPRIVED OF THEIRRIGHT TO EDUCATION

RECOMMENDATIONS

• INTRODUCE PRINCIPLES RELATING TO THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CHILDREN

• MEASURES SHOULD BE TAKEN TO STRENGTHEN THE CHILD SECRETARIAT AND NATIONAL COMMITTEE FOR THE MONITORING OF THE RIGHT OF CHILDREN

• GOVERNMENT SHOULD TAKE MEASURES AGAINST COMBAT VIOLENCE OF CHILDREN

• IMPROVE HEALTH, EDUCATION, INFRASTRUCTURE FACILITIES IN EFFECTED AREAS

• CONSIDERATION SHOULD BE GIVEN IN RAISING AND STANDARDIZING THE AGE FOR CONTRACT MARRIAGES

CONCLUSION

IF CHILDREN LIVE WITH ENCOURAGEMENT THEY LEARN CONFIDENCE

IF CHILDREN LIVE WITH PRAISE THEY LEARN TO APPRECIATE

IF CHILDREN LIVE WITH FAIRNESS THEY LEARN JUSTICE

IF CHILDREN LIVE WITH SECURITYTHEY LEARN TO HAVE FAITH

IF CHILDREN LIVE WITH APPROVAL THEY LEARN TO LIKE THEMSELVES

IF CHILDREN LIVE WITH ACCEPTANCE THEY LEARN TO FIND LOVE IN THE WORLD

Q & A