Child Soldiers

The Full Picture

First stereotype

All children take part in active combat.

Child Soldiers

Not the whole story…

Not all children are engaged in active combat.

What else are children used for by fighting forces?

• As porters - carrying

• As cooks

• As wives and mothers

• As sex slaves

• As spies or decoys.

Second Stereotype

All Children are fighting for

Rebel Groups only

Not the whole story…

Government Forces too

Rebel groups use child soldiers often to fight the government.

Governments use child soldiers in armed conflict.

Some countries actively recruit children as young as 7.

There are an estimated 300,000 child soldiers.

Countries Where Child Soldiers Exist Today

Country

Burma

Sri Lanka

Iraq

Afghanistan

Colombia

DRC

Who is Recruiting

Burma’s National Army

Rebel Forces

Insurgent groups

Taliban Militias

Guerrilla Forces

Government and Rebel Forces

Est. Numbers

70,000

6,000

Unknown

Unknown

14,000

30,000

Third Stereotype

All child soldiers are abducted or forced into

conflicts.

Abducted or forced conscription

Not the whole story…

Some children are recruited voluntarily.

Why join?

• Paid

• Promises of a better life.

• Revenge

• Prestige/ honour

• No other choice.

Why abduct children?

• Easier to brainwash

• Easier to coerce

• Torments local community

• Dispensable.

Fourth stereotype

All child soldiers are boys.

Just boys

Not the whole story…

Many girls too

40% of all child soldiers are female.

Life for girls particularly hard because of the shame attached to what happens to them. They often find it difficult if they do return to their communities because they are less visible they often get ignored after the conflict.

Fifth stereotype

All Child Soldiers Kill.

Everyone kills

Not the whole story…

It varies from conflict to conflict

But all of the children are likely to suffer

trauma and abuse. They have to deal with malnutrition and exposure to drug taking.

Violence is a part of their daily life, they are often forced to kill and will see and be forced to do horrific things.

Pros and cons

• Sense of belonging

• Status and power

• Livelihood

• A life that involves drug taking and abuse.

• Ostracised from family and community

• Exposure to violence