"Children should have no part in war. By making them agents of civil conflict and depriving them of their childhood, the vicious cycle is perpetuated. Child soldiers are a symptom of the wider problem, the complete neglect of a whole generation"
-Carol Bellamy, Executive Director, UNICEF
"Nowadays, I cannot cry"
-Boni, escaped child soldier
"They ask you 'what are you crying?' Then if you said, 'nothing' then they can say, 'Now you are thinking about home. So, we better kill you.'"
-Escapee from the LRA
-Carol Bellamy, Executive Director, UNICEF
"Nowadays, I cannot cry"
-Boni, escaped child soldier
"They ask you 'what are you crying?' Then if you said, 'nothing' then they can say, 'Now you are thinking about home. So, we better kill you.'"
-Escapee from the LRA
The story
The LRA (Lord's Resistance Army) is the army that Joseph Kony is in charge of. They are a powerful army in Uganda, the CAR, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. His target age for recruitment is children ages 5-12, whom he immediately desensitizes by forcing them to watch or partake in the murder of other children, villagers, or even their own family members. He uses religion to gain followers by claiming that he is able to speak to God.
In northern Uganda, the area where the LRA has the greatest influence, people who live in smaller villages crowd the bigger cities every night to sleep in areas such as bus stations or hospitals. If they stay in their homes, there is a risk that the LRA will come and kidnap all the children and murder the adults.
Child soldiering is not just taking place in that one area. Child soldiers are used in wars throughout the rest of Africa and the world. One of the more famous wars is the recent civil war in Sierra Leone, where children were used to combat the government and illegally mine for diamonds. It was made famous by Ishmael Beah, the author of A Long Way Gone. In this autobiography he chronicles his own life as a child soldier. His family was separated by the war, and he found himself fighting for the rebels. After a few years of fighting for them he was taken to a demobilization center, so he could receive therapy for his psychological damage. He was but one of thousands of child soldiers in Africa.
Statistics and facts
- There has been at least 250,000 child soldiers currently.
- During the entire war, an estimated 50,000-75,000 children were part of the revolution in Sierra Leone.
- Approximately 40% of the child soldiers are girls.
- Over half of all people in Africa are under age 18.
- On average, former soldiers make one third less than people who did not serve as children.
- 20 countries officially have children under 18 participating in armed conflict.
- 40 countries legally allow people under 18 to participate in their army.
- Most children that are recruited by the LRA are between 5 and 12 years old.
- Not just rebel groups, but even government militaries recruit children.
- Since 1998, at least 100,000 children have received therapy and been able to return to their families.
- Battle kits and weapons are now light enough for children as young as 8 to use effectively.
- Red Hand Day: February 12 is recognized as the day for awareness about child soldiers
Learn more
|
|
|
|
RESOURCES
Angucia, Margaret. "Children and war in Africa: the crisis continues in northern Uganda."International Journal on World Peace 26.3 (2009): 77+. General OneFile. Web. 14 May 2015.
Beah, Ishmael. A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2007. Print.
Bower, Bruce. "Lost are found: child soldiers can reenter, thrive in former community." Science News 7 June 2008: 5+. General OneFile. Web. 14 May 2015.
"Ending the Use of Child Soldiers." Gale Student Resources in Context. Detroit: Gale, 2013.Student Resources in Context. Web. 14 May 2015.
Invisible Children. "About | Invisible Children." Invisible Children About Invisible Children Comments. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 May 2015.
Kim, Susanna. "Weary from war: child soldiers in the Congo." Harvard International Review 27.4 (2006): 7+. General OneFile. Web. 14 May 2015.
"KONY 2012." YouTube. YouTube, n.d. Web. 14 May 2015.
Moynagh, Maureen. "Human rights, child-soldier narratives, and the problem of form." Research in African Literatures 42.4 (2011): 39+. General OneFile. Web. 14 May 2015.
Skinner, Elliott P. "CHILD SOLDIERS IN AFRICA: A DISASTER FOR FUTURE FAMILIES."International Journal on World Peace 16.2 (1999): 7. General OneFile. Web. 14 May 2015.
"UNICEF helps reintegrate former child soldiers into local communities." UNICEF Videos 2011.General OneFile. Web. 14 May 2015.
Angucia, Margaret. "Children and war in Africa: the crisis continues in northern Uganda."International Journal on World Peace 26.3 (2009): 77+. General OneFile. Web. 14 May 2015.
Beah, Ishmael. A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2007. Print.
Bower, Bruce. "Lost are found: child soldiers can reenter, thrive in former community." Science News 7 June 2008: 5+. General OneFile. Web. 14 May 2015.
"Ending the Use of Child Soldiers." Gale Student Resources in Context. Detroit: Gale, 2013.Student Resources in Context. Web. 14 May 2015.
Invisible Children. "About | Invisible Children." Invisible Children About Invisible Children Comments. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 May 2015.
Kim, Susanna. "Weary from war: child soldiers in the Congo." Harvard International Review 27.4 (2006): 7+. General OneFile. Web. 14 May 2015.
"KONY 2012." YouTube. YouTube, n.d. Web. 14 May 2015.
Moynagh, Maureen. "Human rights, child-soldier narratives, and the problem of form." Research in African Literatures 42.4 (2011): 39+. General OneFile. Web. 14 May 2015.
Skinner, Elliott P. "CHILD SOLDIERS IN AFRICA: A DISASTER FOR FUTURE FAMILIES."International Journal on World Peace 16.2 (1999): 7. General OneFile. Web. 14 May 2015.
"UNICEF helps reintegrate former child soldiers into local communities." UNICEF Videos 2011.General OneFile. Web. 14 May 2015.