A contemporary issue in

human rights
Child soldiers

Defining the issue of

child soldiers
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is
intended to be universally applied - which
means it applies to children and young people
as well as adults.
Article 25 - children are 'entitled to special care and assistance'.

1959 - the UN adopted the Declaration of the

Rights of the Child.
It states that children need 'special safeguards and care, including
appropriate legal protection, before as well as after birth'.

There are about 300,000 child soldiers

worldwide today.
Children have been involved in military
campaigns throughout history.
Any examples?
The use of children in armed conflict is often
considered as a form of contemporary slavery
or human trafficking.
It involves the unlawful recruitment of children,
often through force, fraud or coercion.

Groups may target children because they are

seen as free and expendable labour, or as
easier to abduct or manipulate.
The parties recruiting children can be
government forces, paramilitary organisations
or rebel groups.
Children might be recruited at home, on the
street or even at school, or they may be
physically abducted by recruiters.
Children may even 'volunteer' because of social
or economic pressures or they believe the
group offers food or security.

Children will usually be unable to escape or face

severe punishment for attempting to escape.
They are often forced to commit violence
against their neighbours or families making it
difficult to return home because of the stigma
attached to them.
The use of child soldiers takes 3 forms:
Direct involvement in armed conflict
Indirect involvement through support roles e.g. Cook
Use of particular political advantage e.g. Human shields

Read case study on page 142

Former child soldiers suffer from psychological

injuries.
These mental health conditions can result in
high rates of substance abuse, criminality and
difficulties in reintegrating into society.

Complete the questions on page 143

Extent of the issue

Conflicts in Sierra Leon, Liberia and Uganda involve
heavy use of child soldiers.
Example: in Uganda, more than 30 000 children have
been kidnapped to serve as soldiers and slaves by the
rebel group Lord's Resistance Army (LRA).
Girls that are abducted are raped and become sex
slaves.
The majority of child soldiers are between 15 and 18
and in some cases children under 15 and as young as
7 may be recruited.

The recruitment of children under 15 is

considered a war crime under international law.
They are frequently forced to conduct hazardous
tasks, they may be given drugs to make them
more dangerous or fearless during conflict and
they live in harsh conditions with no health care
and little food.
Many countries around the world still continue to
officially recruit under 18s into government
armed forces
Australia and the US still allow voluntary recruitment of 17 year
olds into the army.

2012 - former President of Liberia Charles Taylor

was convicted by the Special Court for Sierra
Leone on his role in the civil war in that country
which included the use of child soldiers.