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Child Soldiers

Child Soldiers. Youth Who Participate in Armed Conflict. Child Soldiers What do you know?. How would you explain the difference between an adult and a child? Are crimes against children worse than other crimes? Why or why not?

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Child Soldiers

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  1. Child Soldiers Youth Who Participate in Armed Conflict

  2. Child SoldiersWhat do you know? • How would you explain the difference between an adult and a child? • Are crimes against children worse than other crimes? Why or why not? • Is this an issue that the United States should consider getting involved in? Why or why not?

  3. Child SoldiersInternational Definition “Any child–girl or boy–under the age of 18, who is part of any kind of armed force or armed group, including but not limited to combatants, messengers, and anyone accompanying such groups other than as family members. This includes girls and boys recruited for sexual purposes and/or forced marriage” (UNICEF).

  4. Child SoldiersBasic Facts • There are hundreds of thousands of children involved in armed conflicts around the world • Child soldiers are used in more than 30 countries around the world and range in age from 5 to 17 years old

  5. Child SoldiersBasic Facts • Both girls and boys are used as child soldiers • In countries like Nepal, Sri Lanka and Uganda, 1/3 or more of the child soldiers are girls

  6. Child SoldiersWhere are child soldiers? Children at War Around the World Source: UN

  7. Child SoldiersHow are they recruited? • Some rebel groups forcibly abduct children, others offer “protection” and a way to provide for their family • Similar to gang life; Children are often forced to kill other recruits or members of their own family

  8. Child SoldiersHow are they recruited? • Rebel groups target poor, rural areas that are unprotected • Militias recruit the poor, desperate and powerless • Children are brainwashed and indoctrinated through music, movies and drugs

  9. Child SoldiersWhat do they do? • Child soldiers often fight on the front lines of conflict • They not only serve as soldiers, but in many other capacities as well • E.g.: Scouts, spies, saboteurs, decoys and landmine clearers

  10. Child SoldiersWhat do they do? • Female soldiers are often used as sexual slaves or are given as rewards to male soldiers as “wives”

  11. Child SoldiersWhy child soldiers? • Child soldiers increase the number of fighters • Children are more easily manipulated and controlled; they are more likely to follow orders without question than adults • Children can hide and be smuggled in tight quarters because of their size

  12. Child SoldiersWhy child soldiers? • People do not suspect children to be soldiers, so they slip through security checks unexamined • Child soldiers can recruit other children by going to schools or villages • Advances in technology have produced weapons light and cheap enough to be used by children

  13. Child SoldiersWhich children are affected? • Children in extreme poverty who are desperate for food and shelter • Orphans and children with weak family structures • Children living in refugee camps or conflict zones

  14. Child SoldiersReturning to normal life? • Disarmament: to remove all weapons from the children • Demobilization: the point at which the child leaves military life • Rehabilitation and Reintegration: to prepare a child to return to normal life

  15. Child SoldiersReturning to normal life? • Back to Normal? • Can be difficult for child to readjust • The UN and NGOs try to provide psychological support, education, and job training

  16. Child SoldiersConclusion • Connection • Describe at least two ways that the issue of Child Soldiers relates to gangs. • What are two examples of the themes of fear, power and control from this topic? Make sure to unpack the theme.

  17. Center for Defense Information www.cdi.org/atp/childsoldiers Human Rights Watch www.hrw.org International Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers www.child-soldiers.org UNICEF www.unicef.org War Child www.warchild.org Youth Advocate Program International www.yapi.org Child SoldiersFor more information

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