Child Soldiers The Full Picture
Jan 21, 2016
Child Soldiers
The Full Picture
First stereotype
All children take part in active combat.
Child Soldiers
Not the whole story…
Not all children are engaged in active combat.
What else are children used for by fighting forces?
• As porters - carrying
• As cooks
• As wives and mothers
• As sex slaves
• As spies or decoys.
Second Stereotype
All Children are fighting for
Rebel Groups only
Not the whole story…
Government Forces too
Rebel groups use child soldiers often to fight the government.
Governments use child soldiers in armed conflict.
Some countries actively recruit children as young as 7.
There are an estimated 300,000 child soldiers.
Countries Where Child Soldiers Exist Today
Country
Burma
Sri Lanka
Iraq
Afghanistan
Colombia
DRC
Who is Recruiting
Burma’s National Army
Rebel Forces
Insurgent groups
Taliban Militias
Guerrilla Forces
Government and Rebel Forces
Est. Numbers
70,000
6,000
Unknown
Unknown
14,000
30,000
Third Stereotype
All child soldiers are abducted or forced into
conflicts.
Abducted or forced conscription
Not the whole story…
Some children are recruited voluntarily.
Why join?
• Paid
• Promises of a better life.
• Revenge
• Prestige/ honour
• No other choice.
Why abduct children?
• Easier to brainwash
• Easier to coerce
• Torments local community
• Dispensable.
Fourth stereotype
All child soldiers are boys.
Just boys
Not the whole story…
Many girls too
40% of all child soldiers are female.
Life for girls particularly hard because of the shame attached to what happens to them. They often find it difficult if they do return to their communities because they are less visible they often get ignored after the conflict.
Fifth stereotype
All Child Soldiers Kill.
Everyone kills
Not the whole story…
It varies from conflict to conflict
But all of the children are likely to suffer
trauma and abuse. They have to deal with malnutrition and exposure to drug taking.
Violence is a part of their daily life, they are often forced to kill and will see and be forced to do horrific things.
Pros and cons
• Sense of belonging
• Status and power
• Livelihood
• A life that involves drug taking and abuse.
• Ostracised from family and community
• Exposure to violence