About Child Soldiers
Thousands of children under the age of 18 are currently fighting in armed conflicts. They serve in government forces, armed rebel groups, and government-supported militias. Some are as young as eight years old.
Since 2001, the participation of child soldiers has been reported in 21 on-going or recent armed conflicts in almost every region of the world. Currently, children are participating in active armed conflicts in 14 countries or territories: Afghanistan, Burma, Central African Republic, Chad, Colombia, Democratic Republic of Congo, India, Iraq, Occupied Palestinian Territories, Philippines, Somalia, Sudan, Thailand, and Uganda.
Why do children become soldiers?
- Children are uniquely vulnerable to military recruitment because of their emotional and physical immaturity. They are easily manipulated and can be drawn into violence that they are too young to resist or understand.
- Technological advances in weaponry and the proliferation of small arms have contributed to the increased use of child soldiers. Lightweight automatic weapons are simple to operate, often easily accessible, and can be used by children as easily as adults.
- Children are most likely to become child soldiers if they are poor, separated from their families, displaced from their homes, living in a combat zone or have limited access to education.
- Many children join armed groups because of economic or social pressure, or because children believe that the group will offer food or security. Others are forcibly recruited, ñpress-gangedî or abducted by armed groups.
Are only boys used as Child Soldiers?
- Both girls and boys are used as child soldiers. In some countries, such as Nepal, Sri Lanka and Uganda, a third or more of the child soldiers were reported to be girls. In some conflicts, girls may be raped, or given to military commanders as "wives".
What are Child Soldiers made to do?
- Once recruited, child soldiers may serve as porters or cooks, guards, messengers or spies. Many are pressed into combat, where they may be forced to the front lines or sent into minefields ahead of older troops. Some children have been used for suicide missions.
- Children are sometimes forced to commit atrocities against their own family or neighbours. Such practices help ensure that the child is ñstigmatisedî and unable to return to his or her home community.
What happens when the war is over, or if they escape?
- In some countries, former child soldiers have access to rehabilitation programmes to help them locate their families, get back into school, receive vocational training, and re-enter civilian life. However, many children have no access to such programmes. They may have no way to support themselves and are at risk of re-recruitment.
What is the International Community doing?
- In 2000, the United Nations adopted an Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict. The protocol prohibits the forced recruitment of children under the age of 18 or their use in hostilities. To date, it has been ratified by 128 countries.
- The ILO Convention on the Worst Forms of Child Labour prohibits the forced or compulsory recruitment of children under the age of 18 for use in armed conflict. It has been ratified (signed) by over 150 countries.
Visit our Resources page for links to more Human Rights Watch material on Child Soldiers.
