FAQs about child soldiers
FAQ’s
Learn more about the plight of child soldiers and find some surprising and gripping answers to your questions.
Why are children being recruited?
There are several reasons why armed groups recruit children.
• Children are easy to manipulate and make dependent on an armed group.
• Children can be played into a moral dilemma for the opponent (it is difficult to shoot a child).
• The longer a war lasts, the fewer adults there are to recruit as soldiers.
• In some countries, a lack of national law means a lack of protection for these children. If there are sufficient laws in practice, they may not be commonly known or implemented.
• If children aren’t registered upon birth and lack identity papers, they can easily be recruited (and will not officially be counted as missing).
• Girls are especially vulnerable as they may be expected, due to cultural factors, to serve as servants and provide sexual acts.
• Children can be played into a moral dilemma for the opponent (it is difficult to shoot a child).
• The longer a war lasts, the fewer adults there are to recruit as soldiers.
• In some countries, a lack of national law means a lack of protection for these children. If there are sufficient laws in practice, they may not be commonly known or implemented.
• If children aren’t registered upon birth and lack identity papers, they can easily be recruited (and will not officially be counted as missing).
• Girls are especially vulnerable as they may be expected, due to cultural factors, to serve as servants and provide sexual acts.
• Across the world, small weapons are being built and distributed specifically for children’s hands.
How are children being recruited?
The recruiting of child soldiers takes place in three various ways.
The recruiting of child soldiers takes place in three various ways.
• National law
Children can be obliged by national law to take part in the armed forces. This so called military service is common in Western countries. It is often possible on these countries to serve in the military as from 16 or 17 years of age. This is not in line with a ‘straight 18’ rule, which dictates that children under 18 may not serve in the army.
Children can be obliged by national law to take part in the armed forces. This so called military service is common in Western countries. It is often possible on these countries to serve in the military as from 16 or 17 years of age. This is not in line with a ‘straight 18’ rule, which dictates that children under 18 may not serve in the army.
• Through force
The most well known manner in which children are recruited is through ‘forced’ of ‘forcible’ recruitment. This means that children are made to become part of an armed group against their will. Usually they are kidnapped from their schools, at markets or in the streets. Sometimes children are being forced by their parents or community to take part in the conflict in order to protect the family or raise income.
The most well known manner in which children are recruited is through ‘forced’ of ‘forcible’ recruitment. This means that children are made to become part of an armed group against their will. Usually they are kidnapped from their schools, at markets or in the streets. Sometimes children are being forced by their parents or community to take part in the conflict in order to protect the family or raise income.
• ‘Voluntarily’
Why do children ‘voluntarily’ choose to fight in a war? The reasons are diverse. Poverty, lack of education or work, abuse, revenge for the killing of family members and unsafe surroundings can be reasons for them to join an armed group. If lack of food drives children to pick up weapons this can of course hardly be seen as a purely voluntary choice.
Why do children ‘voluntarily’ choose to fight in a war? The reasons are diverse. Poverty, lack of education or work, abuse, revenge for the killing of family members and unsafe surroundings can be reasons for them to join an armed group. If lack of food drives children to pick up weapons this can of course hardly be seen as a purely voluntary choice.
Learn more about the recruitment of child soldiers.
Watch real stories from child soldiers who have been through our programs.
Watch real stories from child soldiers who have been through our programs.
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