Violence is everywhere – watched on a TV screen and heard through the radio. Although taking violence a step further, like children playing violent video games, is seen as highly controversial and 75% of parents believe video games contribute to hostility (Nunneley, 2013). Now imagine if these same children were put behind a gun, and actually encouraged by adults to attack. Within countries all over the world, thousands of families have kids under the age of eighteen being pushed into heavy drug use, exploited due to their age, and forced into the title of being a child soldier. There is a need to understand the rights of a child, acknowledged the illegal and hurtful use of children in conflicts, and support those making a positive difference.
The Declaration of Human Rights was set out during 1948 by the United Nations which outlines the basic standards every person has been entitled. Since then, children under the age of eighteen have been given additional rights- recognized as the 1989 Convention of the Rights of a Child (CRC) (“About the Convention,” 2013). Every child is given these due to their dependency with adults and vulnerability from actions surrounding them. There are 54 articles in the CRC; numbers one to forty two outline the protection and provision children need while articles 43- 52 state how governments and adults must work together in ensuring all children are entitled to these rights. With child soldiers in mind, number 38 states, “Governments should not allow children under 15 to join the army. Children in war zones should receive special attention.” (Since 2008, the Optional Protocol has raised this age to eighteen hoping to help children involved in hostilities [“FACTSHEET: CHILD SOLDIERS,” n.d]). In Canada, this convention was ratified in December of 1991 (“About the Convention,” 2013). Though in many other countries, poverty, abuse, homelessness and neglect still leave children suffering, and children as young as eight are participating in armed groups and forces with a total of 250,000 worldwide (“A Child should,” 2013).
The use of children during war is not new, and the reason for the increase is clear. Children were being recruited as drummers on battlefields from the 1800’s until the early 20th century. Drummers were an important role of army communication- with various drum calls used to signal different commands (“Drum Beats of,” n.d). Although there were age minimums set, these were usually ignored, leading to the drummer boy being treated as mascot by adults, while appearing to have a prestigious life to others. This sparked an interest in boys watching, and some even ran away from home just to enlist (“Drum Beats of,” n.d ). Images of young children at war were frequently illustrated in paintings, sculptures, and poetry because it was seen as deeply saddening. In addition, during World War II, Adolf Hitler began a training program for children named The Hitler Youth. By the end of World War II, the most common and dangerous soldiers were children (Sanfiorenzo, 2012). Further, in a very notorious case, thousands of conscripted children committed mass murders and other inhuman acts during the Cambodian genocide, all after being exploited and forced to kill by the communist group, Khmer Rouge (“Former Child Soldier,” 2009). Even when considering past wars, there has been a definite increase in the number of child soldiers fighting, with one reason being the generation and production of light-weight weapons. In the past, heavy hardware to attack with, such as a machete, was far too bulky for a child to swing- especially when fighting against a similarly armed adult. These days, a child with an assault rifle is a terrifying match for anyone. (“Children as Soldiers,” 1996).
In a developed country’s society, children are viewed as weaker and require the greatest protection. However, the definition is vastly different to those countries taking in children for fighting during conflicts. Youth are usually used in three ways while in conflicts: direct roles in hostilities, combat support, and in political advantage and propaganda. Those in direct hostilities are doing exactly as it sounds- shooting, fighting, and being directly involved in the violence created. Others, who are used as combat support roles, are often being spies, cooks, mine cleaners, and sex slaves- a shocking 10% of girls have been gang raped (“What is a,” n.d), and/or used as “wives” to older men “I don’t know how many people had sex with me…A man would come, then another and another. You couldn’t refuse… they said they’d kill you if you ran away.” (Jon-Anders, n.d) Another example, in Uganda during 1986, the National Resistance Army sent children to the capitol, the young being small and inconspicuous, to throw hand grenades amongst the fleeing crowds, directed at government soldiers (“Children as Soldiers,” 1996). Lastly, kids are being used for political advantage and propaganda. The LTTE in Sir Lanka are a particular armed group, active in the public school system while implanting children at a young, naive age with the false idea of what their armed force is about. In these circumstances, children are expected to sign up (“Children as Soldiers,” 1996).
Due to all these positions children participate in, the term “child soldier” is actually discouraged because it doesn’t accurately describe the roles boys and girls play and how they are recruited. Some children are forcibly recruited, while others are driven to join from poverty, discrimination, abuse, or to seek revenge on the violence acted upon themselves and their families. In Sierra Leone, 80% of children have seen the death of a sibling, parent or relative (“What is a, ” n.d). Unfortunately, the conditions are usually far worse once the children have been enlisted.
After recruitment, children go through varies degrees of treatment, often verging on brutal. Youth would be forced through periods of political brain-washing, while others become socialized to violence- after being put through extreme terror and abuse (“Children as Soldiers,” 1996). In the past ten years, more than two million children have been seriously injured or killed (“A Child should,” 2013). Along with the supply of cheap, lighter weapons, youth would be placed training camps to learn how rifles are handled. Youth will sometimes be forced into committing terrible actions on their neighbours and even families. This practice will help to ensure the child’s inability to return back home to his or her community. Equally, to keep children fearless and inhuman, they would be given a high amount of heavy drugs: “They would give us “chavre” [cannabis] and force us to kill people to toughen us up. Sometimes they brought us women and girls to rape… They would beat us if we refused.” – Albert, recruited at 15 by an opposition group in the Democratic of Congo (Jon-Anders, n.d).
Democratic of Congo is considered one of the countries at risk along with Chad, Sierra Leone, Mynamar, Thailand and United Kingdom. (“Our Work,” 2013) These countries listed are considered priority countries, due to high levels of child use or low legal fighting ages. In Chad, children are used in many types of army groups and non-state groups. Youth are used to fight against the opposition in very dangerous hostilities. The government has committed to stop, though conditions remain unchanged. In the DMC, armed conflict has continued in the North and South of Kivu, with all fighting forces unlawfully recruit boys and girls in war. Surprisingly, in the United Kingdom, the army has not raised its recruitment age from 16, though the armed forces have granted this as a right. (“Our Work,” 2013)
It’s undeniable that a child being used in conflicts is not only harmful and dangerous, but it also violates many rights that child has. There are multiple groups and organizations that are in the priority countries trying (and succeeding) in make a positive change with the situation. To begin, UNICEF is a widely known organization that works with United Nations agencies and national partners to protect children (“Armed violence reduction,” 2011). UNICEF also works to release children from armed forces as soon as possible, and help reintegrate those affected to their families and communities (“Armed violence reduction,” 2011). A large contributor towards the fight is also War Child. War Child is a non-profit organization, whose goal is to help war affected communities and give children in need necessary support. There are three core programming areas being focused on; education, opportunity, and justice (“What We Do,” n.d ). War child’s educational program gives youth the opportunity for learning in a protected environment free from abuse. War Child is also working to rebuild schools, providing programs in basic life skills, and running catch-up training for those lost time. In addition, War Child gives the chance for vocational training. The program gives young people the chance to gain the skills necessary to be secured economic employment and income supporting themselves and their families. Lastly, this organization is dedicated to ensuring that both women’s and child’s rights are respected and understood. Children and women are regularly being victims of human right violations in both conflict and post-conflict communities. Justice programing provides legal representation to those in need of protection (“What We Do,” n.d). UNICEF also supports services that care for physical and mental well being of any child as well, and has released more than 100,000 youth and reintegrated those survivors back into their communities.
In order for all children to live equally, people need to be educated on children’s rights, understand why and how youth are being treated globally, and support those making a difference. No child should be robbed of their childhood, and be exposed to psychological and physical torture. Youth in developed countries are fortunate in a variety of ways- especially with the exposure to violence being far less invasive, and more often than not, a personal choice.
References
About the Convention on the Rights of a Child. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.unicef.ca/en/policy-advocacy-for-children/about-the-convention-on-the-rights-of-the-child
Armed violence reduction. (2011, March 22). Retrieved from http://www.unicef.org/protection/57929_58011.html
A Child should never be a Soldier. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.worldvision.org/content.nsf/learn/globalissues-child-soldiers
Children as Soldiers. (1996). Retrieved from http://www.unicef.org/sowc96/2csoldrs.htm
Drum Beats of the Drummer Boy. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://monitor.noaa.gov/150th/pdfs/drum_beats.pdf
FACTSHEET: CHILD SOLDIERS. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.unicef.org/emerg/files/childsoldiers.pdf
Former Child Soldier Describes Khmer Rouge. (2009, September 28). Retrieved from http://www.voacambodia.com/content/a-40-2009-09-28-voa4-90171232/1354614.html
Jon-Anders, K. (n.d.). The Situation Features. Retrieved from http://www.thesituation.co.uk/features/child_soldiers/child_soldiers.html
Nunneley, S. (2013, January 11). Study – 75% of parents believe violence in video games contribute to violence in the US. Retrieved from http://www.vg247.com/2013/01/11/study-75-of-parents-believe-violence-in-video-games-contributes-to-violence-in-the-us/
Our Work. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.child-soldiers.org/country_reader.php?id=6
Sanfiorenzo, D. (2012, March 07). The 411 on Child Soldiers (DETAILS). Retrieved from http://globalgrind.com/news/411-child-soldiers-details
[War Child UK]. (2010, September 23). Juliet’s Story- From Soldier to Global Campaigner. [Video file]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Mj2ooJJD3A
What is a Child Soldier?. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.planusa.org/contentmgr/showdetails.php/id/2147
What We Do. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.warchild.ca/whatwedo
Just Bloggin' 