Under children's rights law, child soldiers are predominantly considered as victims if recruited and used in hostilities under the legally accepted minimum age.

Are child soldiers victims?

Regardless of how children are recruited and of their roles, child soldiers are victims, whose participation in conflict bears serious implications for their physical and emotional well-being. They are commonly subject to abuse and most of them witness death, killing, and sexual violence.

Should child soldiers be considered victims or criminals?

However, although often seen as victims, child soldiers have perpetra- ted atrocious crimes. ... Therefore, while child soldiers are victims of circumstances in which they find themselves, and should therefore be treated as such, they have been responsible for some of the worst breaches of international law.

Are child soldiers responsible for their actions?

Child soldiers are not morally responsible for their actions. Children are often forced into fighting and have little choice over whether or not they enlist. ... The recruiters of child soldiers also use drugs and alcohol to make children more compliant and to enable them to commit acts they would not ordinarily commit.

Are child soldiers forced to fight?

Many are pressed into combat, where they may be forced to the front lines or sent into minefields ahead of older troops. Children have also been used for suicide missions. In some conflicts, girls are raped, or given to military commanders as "wives."

The harsh reality of child soldiers

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Are child soldiers drugged?

“Child soldiers are drugged by militia leaders. ... A programme co-ordinator for an international NGO working in the region – who declined to be named – said that as many as 95 per cent of children used in armed conflicts are introduced to drugs, most commonly marijuana, although khat, a stimulant, is also used.

Do child soldiers have a choice?

Although child soldiers are often forcefully recruited, it is not the primary way that children, both male and female, become involved in armed conflict. Participation frequently comes down to despair. While there is usually an element of “choice” involved, that term is used very loosely.

Do child soldiers go to jail?

But in a conflict with a so-called terrorist group, children are prosecuted as criminals and sentenced to prison as terrorists. ... In the past twenty years, tens of thousands of former child soldiers have benefited from rehabilitation programs designed to help them rejoin society.

Is child soldiers still a problem?

Despite global efforts to end the use of child soldiers, girls and boys are still forced into combat - as fighters and in other roles - in at least 14 countries including the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan and Somalia. ... Children are not only recruited by armed forces and groups as fighters.

How many child soldiers are prosecuted?

Some 300,000 combatants under age 18 — some as young as six and 40 percent of them girls — are illegal recruits in more than 30 conflicts around the world, Popovski and co-author Karen Arts say in the brief, which is based on a forthcoming book that examines how a child rights approach has been gradually introduced ...

What is the punishment for using child soldiers?

Whoever violates, or attempts or conspires to violate, subsection (a) shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 20 years, or both and, if death of any person results, shall be fined under this title and imprisoned for any term of years or for life.

Why does Africa use child soldiers?

Reasons for recruitment by armed groups

Child soldiers are typically recruited because they are seen by armed groups as expendable and cheap to maintain.

What's considered a war crime?

According to the United Nations, a war crime is a serious breach of international law committed against civilians or “enemy combatants” during an international or domestic armed conflict. A war crime occurs when superfluous injury or unnecessary suffering is inflicted upon an enemy.

What is the youngest child soldier?

Momčilo Gavrić (Serbian Cyrillic: Момчило Гаврић; 1 May 1906 – 28 April 1993) was the youngest known Serbian soldier ever who became a soldier at the age of eight.

How does being a child soldier affect them?

Child soldiers are more often killed or injured than adult soldiers on the front line. They are less costly for the respective group or organization than adult recruits, because they receive fewer resources, including less and smaller weapons and equipment.

Does India use child soldiers?

The majority of children are used by militants, though government supported self-defence militias also use them. ... According to them, up to 118 districts in India are facing armed insurrection and that child soldiers were used by both sides in these conflicts.

Can child soldiers escape?

Most freed child soldiers are boys. The majority of the girls escape on their own. “This is because you have to cooperate with the commanders to free the children: UNICEF and other organisations doing this kind of work receive lists with names of soldiers under the age of 18, who needs to be rescued.

What percentage of girls are used as child soldiers?

Girls make up an estimated 10 to 30 percent of child soldiers used for fighting and other purposes.

Are child soldiers paid?

Child soldiers are children under the age of 18, some even as young as seven years of age, who are used for any purpose in a military or armed group. ... Why do people use child soldiers? Armed forces can manipulate children easily, they do not eat very much food, and they do not have to be paid.

Can you be deployed at 17?

Before you visit your local recruiter, be sure you meet the minimum qualifications for serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. ... You must be a U.S. citizen or resident alien. You must be at least 17 years old (17-year-old applicants require parental consent). You must (with very few exceptions) have a high school diploma.

What happens to child soldiers when they grow up?

This article offers findings on the first longitudinal study of life outcomes for former child soldiers. ... The data show that, after 16 years, the vast majority of this group of former child soldiers have become productive, capable and caring adults. At the same time, none of them are truly free from their pasts.

Did 17 year olds fight in Vietnam?

Statistics show that at least five men killed in Vietnam were sixteen years old, and at least 12 were seventeen years old. 61% of those killed were younger than twenty one and 11,465 of those killed were younger than twenty years of age.

Why are children chosen as child soldiers?

Children become soldiers in different ways. Some are forcibly recruited. They may be abducted, threatened or coerced into joining, while others are enticed with money, drugs or in other ways. In many cases, children choose to join as a result of economic or social pressures.

Are child soldiers effective?

Are child soldiers effective? Yes. ... In combat, children can be daring and tenacious, particularly when under the influence of drugs—a common practice—or when compelled by political or religious zeal. Child units can greatly add to confusion on battlefields, slowing opposing forces' progress.

Why are child soldiers fed drugs?

It is commonly reported that child soldiers are given drugs to decrease their fear and increase their prowess in battle (Pearn, 2003).