...Child Soldiers in many countries are forced to go and fight in wars because they had done something wrong before they should be given amnesty because they had to be drugged and go and fight in war. There are people who don’t believe they should be given amnesty which sounds horrible because they were forced by their parents and groups. These child soldiers should be given amnesty because they were forced to go and fight in war even though they had just messed up once. Many child soldiers are 16 years old or younger which means many of these kids are forced to take drugs and kill people at a age that many are still learning things like to read and write. They have been forced to go and join terrorists groups. On the other side there are...
Words: 290 - Pages: 2
...woke up everyday as a child soldier. He trained and went to go attack enemies and villages. When he needed motivation or when he had accomplished his goal, he went to do drugs and shoot guns with his friends. He didn’t choose to be a child soldier and commit terrible actions on his own. He was forced to do these actions and was bribed to execute orders from his commanders. Ishmael’s situation is not uncommon around the world. In fact, there are multiple amounts of people who are/were child soldiers. Though a fraction of child soldiers were committed to being a child soldier, most of them are forced into the war. If they do not do what they are told, they could be killed. This issue is a hotly debated topic. While...
Words: 1783 - Pages: 8
...thousands of child soldiers are put on the front lines each day. Their lives put at risk for values most of they don't even believe in. We don’t allow child soldiers in the U.S., let alone, capturing and beating children to become soldiers. Child soldiers have been around for hundreds of years. Why has it taken us so long to notice that we should do something. So why have we let other countries capture kids and use them on the battlefield? Ten-year-olds in the U.S. are running around on the playground, playing cars and enjoying childhood while other ten-year-olds are being scarred for life with gruesome images of war. Child soldiers are robbed of their childhood and of their childlike qualities; one of the...
Words: 1921 - Pages: 8
...Child Soldiers still deserve to play a card game of war instead of fighting in a real with real guns.This means that child soldiers are still kids and deserve happiness even after what they have done or have lost their innocence. Child Soldiers can be scarred after committing terrible things, or from seeing horrific things,but that doesn't mean they are all monsters and bad people. In A Long Way Gone by Ishmael Beah on page 169 he says, “I believe children have the resilience to outlive their sufferings, if given a chance.” Ishmael Beah was forced to be a child soldier at the age of 12. He was in the war from the ages of 12-15. He spent time in a home to help him recover; this proves that they can regain happiness. Child Soldiers can be ‘reborn’,...
Words: 934 - Pages: 4
...violence drives everyone to desperation. Sometimes there’s not enough soldiers for a war, or a rebellion becomes more about cruelty than passion. During this time, countries turn to children. Whether they volunteer themselves, or are forced to join a militia, underage kids are seen holding weapons and killing people. The majority of people are strongly against this, but the controversy is whether to grant amnesty to these junior soldiers, or prosecute them for their crimes. The children may not be able to make healthy decisions while their home is a war zone, but they should still be punished for taking other people’s (possibly American soldier’s) lives. As seen throughout history, war drives families...
Words: 1023 - Pages: 5
...Did you know that over the last ten years, two million child soldiers have died in war, four million have been seriously injured, and ten million have been left with serious psychological trauma? Armies and terrorist groups capture and use children for many traumatizing jobs that sometimes involves executing or torturing others. Young children are also being sent into war and suicide missions were their lives could easily end in an instant. Many children are stripped of their rights and are forced to obey orders unquestioningly. Use of child soldiers in Iran is a dangerous and deadly violation of human rights that impacts children daily. First, child Soldiers are being used in fighting and battle all over Iran. Many children under seventeen...
Words: 857 - Pages: 4
...2013 Child Soldiers What accounts for the phenomenon of child soldiers in Africa? The primary cause contributing to the recruitment of child soldiers in Africa is poverty. While other factors such as ‘war’ itself, proliferation of small arms, lack of education, displacement all inevitably lead to child soldier recruitment, it is however poverty at the root of these circumstances. Therefore this essay shall argue this case by examining how Africa has come to have such high levels of poverty and by showing the association between other factors and that of poverty. To establish what is meant by the term ‘child soldier’ it must first be defined and a brief description offered that explains the recruitment practices used. This in turn allows the reader to better comprehend the devastating outcomes when underlying causes such as extreme poverty are not addressed. Subsequently this essay examines the factors that account for the phenomenon of child soldiers in Africa and through this examination of causal factors it will become apparent that poverty is a recurring theme. Once it has been established that poverty is indeed the major cause of child soldier recruitment attention is then given to what is being done to stop it. Finally consideration must be given to the problems that arise when addressing the issues of disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of the child soldier back into the community, to avoid a replication of the whole cycle. This focus on stopping child soldier...
Words: 3387 - Pages: 14
...Compelled to become instruments of war, to kill and be killed, child soldiers are forced to give violent expression to the hatreds of adults -- Olara Otunnu In the country of Uganda lies terror in the minds of many children. Many people are unaware of the inhumane and wretched experiences that happen in Uganda. Families cannot sleep peacefully at night because of unwanted attacks from rebels who torture and abduct their children. These children are then forced to be placed into an army, comprised mostly of children in an environment that radically changes their soul. Like the quote from Olara Otunnu, children are used as objects to carry forth actions that certain adults feel towards their civilization. If one is fortunate enough to escape or rescued then they must deal with the cruel effects of reintegrating into society. Research confirms that it is immoral to have child soldiers in Uganda because war-related experiences inhibit a healthy growth as a one suffers from psychological and physical trauma. Known to be one of the worse humanitarian crises since World War II, the epidemic in Uganda began over twenty years ago. This came about due to a man name Joseph Kony and his ideology of establishing a government based on the Ten Commandments (Benter 1). He believed with a large enough army, he would be able to overthrow the current system residing in Uganda today. One usually associates the idea of an army with adults; men and women who voluntary commit to serve their country...
Words: 4230 - Pages: 17
...making it out of the war after the mental, physical, and emotional damage he had been through. Ishmael Beah was a child soldier the Sierra Leone government army recruited to fight against the rebels in the Sierra Leone Civil War. He was forced to fight in the war when he turned thirteen and he fought for almost three years before being rescued by UNICEF. Throughout his time in the war, he had seen extremely horrifying actions that no child should ever see. History has proven that the use of child soldiers should be banned internationally because child soldiers suffer from mental illnesses, are exposed to...
Words: 778 - Pages: 4
...Africa in Cinema- Final Paper Professor Rice May 2010 Child Soldiers in Sierra Leone This semester, the topic of Child Soldiers presented a very interesting dilemma that several countries in Africa continue to face today. Sierra Leone, in particular, has struck an interest because of the many films and readings that try to depict this story of the civil war. In class, we have viewed two films representing the problems with child soldiers in Sierra Leone which include films titled Blood Diamond and Ezra. Both films represent opposite sides of the spectrum, as Blood Diamond shows the Western view of child soldiers and Ezra represents the first African view of child soldiers. Before discussing the two films, there are also two articles that depict the issues of child soldiers in great detail. In the first article by A. B. Zack-Williams titled, “Child Soldiers in the Civil War in Sierra Leone,” the author describes the reasons behind children even joining rebel based armies such as the RUF, why children are chosen as soldiers against their will, and the examination of policies that are yet to be instilled on this matter. The first valid point that the author makes is the purpose of the RUF (Revolutionary United Front). The focus of this organization is to seek a better life for the people in Sierra Leone. They feel as if their lives have been wasted because of poor housing, malnutrition and no opportunity to succeed and that the government is to blame. With that said...
Words: 1488 - Pages: 6
...Name: Professor: Class: Date of submission: Child Soldiers: How the United States has an obligation to help them. In many parts of the world throughout history young children have been involved in armed conflicts. The destiny of the children who are recruited into armed conflict is tragically changed when they are forced to participate in the conflicts. Worldwide the number of child of ages ranging from 6-19 working as child soldiers is estimated to be over 250,000 (“Child soldiers”). These children are deprive of their chance to live a normal life like other young children in other parts of the world but instead are exposed both physical and psychological abuse which affect them for the rest of their lives. The problem of children getting involved in armed conflict as soldiers has grown in different third world countries and needs to be stopped. In this analysis paper the argument that the United States has an obligation to send our military to help the child soldiers around the world will be discussed. There are many different reasons given to support the argument that the United States has an obligation to help in improving the problem of child solders throughout the world. The first reason why the United States is obligated to help child soldiers is that in most cases the child soldiers are recruited by force to join the armed groups. The United States has been one of the leading countries in fighting human trafficking for both labour and sexual exploitation...
Words: 1998 - Pages: 8
...Name: Professor: Class: Date of submission: Child Soldiers: How the United States has an obligation to help them. In many parts of the world throughout history young children have been involved in armed conflicts. The destiny of the children who are recruited into armed conflict is tragically changed when they are forced to participate in the conflicts. Worldwide the number of child of ages ranging from 6-19 working as child soldiers is estimated to be over 250,000 (“Child soldiers”). These children are deprive of their chance to live a normal life like other young children in other parts of the world but instead are exposed both physical and psychological abuse which affect them for the rest of their lives. The problem of children getting involved in armed conflict as soldiers has grown in different third world countries and needs to be stopped. In this analysis paper the argument that the United States has an obligation to send our military to help the child soldiers around the world will be discussed. There are many different reasons given to support the argument that the United States has an obligation to help in improving the problem of child solders throughout the world. The first reason why the United States is obligated to help child soldiers is that in most cases the child soldiers are recruited by force to join the armed groups. The United States has been one of the leading countries in fighting human trafficking for both labour and sexual exploitation...
Words: 1997 - Pages: 8
...Child Soldiers in Africa Starting around the 1980s, a horrible new source of warfare was introduced to Africa. This method is using children for warfare, or in other words, children soldiers. A child soldier is any boy or girl, under the age of 18, who is forced to join and operate within an armed force or armed group in any capacity. It does not only refer to a child who is carrying, or has carried, weapons. The method of using children in combat was first introduced in Africa in the lowlands of Mozambique, where rebel commanders used children for war. Almost half of the numbers of child soldiers in the world come from Africa. They thought that this was a great method because they were easily manipulated, very loyal, and there was an abundance of them. Also the rebel forces found it difficult to convince adults to join them, which initially drove them to the idea of using children instead. Do not be mistaken though, for Africa did not create the child soldier. In fact it was the Nazis who drafted children after they got desperate. Other countries also used children soldiers such as Iran, Iraq, and countries in religion-driven or nationalistic wars such as in Afghanistan, Kosovo, and the Palestinian territories. But in Africa the situation is at the lowest level. The children were used for the sole reason of greed and power and with no recognition of them whatsoever. The children were fooled by using many different schemes. The way they will try to keep the children was...
Words: 1050 - Pages: 5
...Nigeria, Syria and many other countries in the world there are still children being recruited to war. (according to Reliefweb) In fact, child soldiers are used for fighting. For instance, kids are forced to take part in wars, forced to kill, and commit other acts of violence. In addition,the children are used as cooks, porters, messengers, informants, spies or anything their commanders want them to do. Many people believe that child soldiers should not be given amnesty, however, I believe that these juveniles should because they are forced to take part in the military, are also not old enough to know how to make the right decisions. Also these adolescents do not have 100% control over their...
Words: 1451 - Pages: 6
...predominantly associated with one word, death. Even though there have been at least 12 countries with a documented history of child soldiers this paper will focus on one country in Africa, the Democratic Republic of Congo. The research will describe how and why children are becoming soldiers, what life is like for child soldiers, how some children avoid becoming soldiers, and what happens to the soldiers when they become free. Since 1997 the Democratic Republic of Congo has become something like a never-ending nightmare, one of the bloodiest conflicts since World War II, causing more than five million deaths. It seems inconceivable that the biggest country in sub-Saharan Africa and on paper one of the richest, packed with copper, diamonds and gold, as well as immense farmlands of great fertility and enough hydropower to light up the continent, is now one of the poorest, and most hopeless nations on earth. Unfortunately, there are no promising solutions within grasp, or even within sight. One of the gloomiest parts about this nightmarish conflict is the use of child soldiers. The overwhelming majority of child soldiers in the Congo have been kidnapped from their families by rebel groups. It has been estimated that one in ten child soldiers or 30,000 children are found in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The United Nations believes that 15-30% of all newly recruited soldiers in the Democratic Republic of Congo army are less than 18 years old. One...
Words: 1381 - Pages: 6
