Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Child SoldiersChild SoldiersChild SoldiersChild Soldiers
Calvin EppsRebecca GlassBrett Kier
Romina Llona
Calvin EppsRebecca GlassBrett Kier
Romina Llona
ThesisThesis
Children forced to fight in armed conflicts suffer from consequences of trauma, and current measures in place to assist in demobilization are inadequate.
What is a Child Soldier?
What is a Child Soldier?
• ““A person under the age of 18 A person under the age of 18 who directly or indirectly who directly or indirectly participates in an armed conflict participates in an armed conflict as part of an armed force or as part of an armed force or group.”group.”
• ““A person under the age of 18 A person under the age of 18 who directly or indirectly who directly or indirectly participates in an armed conflict participates in an armed conflict as part of an armed force or as part of an armed force or group.”group.”
What is a Child Soldier?
What is a Child Soldier?
• Although many children are Although many children are directly involved as a soldier, directly involved as a soldier, others are used in “combat others are used in “combat support.” This includes roles support.” This includes roles as:as:• Messengers Messengers • SpiesSpies• CooksCooks• Mine clearersMine clearers• PortersPorters• Sexual slaves.Sexual slaves.
• Although many children are Although many children are directly involved as a soldier, directly involved as a soldier, others are used in “combat others are used in “combat support.” This includes roles support.” This includes roles as:as:• Messengers Messengers • SpiesSpies• CooksCooks• Mine clearersMine clearers• PortersPorters• Sexual slaves.Sexual slaves.
Who?Who?
• Both boys and girls are subject to child Both boys and girls are subject to child soldiering, although girls are more likely soldiering, although girls are more likely to be used as sexual slavesto be used as sexual slaves
• Most child soldiers are aged between Most child soldiers are aged between 14 and 18.14 and 18.
• However, many countries recruit However, many countries recruit children as young as 7 to 9 yrs old.children as young as 7 to 9 yrs old.
• Both boys and girls are subject to child Both boys and girls are subject to child soldiering, although girls are more likely soldiering, although girls are more likely to be used as sexual slavesto be used as sexual slaves
• Most child soldiers are aged between Most child soldiers are aged between 14 and 18.14 and 18.
• However, many countries recruit However, many countries recruit children as young as 7 to 9 yrs old.children as young as 7 to 9 yrs old.
Who?Who?• Most soldiers under 15 are from non-Most soldiers under 15 are from non-
governmental military organizationsgovernmental military organizations
• ““The number of children under the age of 18 The number of children under the age of 18 who have been coerced or induced to take up who have been coerced or induced to take up arms as child soldiers is generally thought to arms as child soldiers is generally thought to be in the range of 300,000.” – United Nationsbe in the range of 300,000.” – United Nations
• The Average Age in two separate surveys are The Average Age in two separate surveys are 12 years old 12 years old
• Most soldiers under 15 are from non-Most soldiers under 15 are from non-governmental military organizationsgovernmental military organizations
• ““The number of children under the age of 18 The number of children under the age of 18 who have been coerced or induced to take up who have been coerced or induced to take up arms as child soldiers is generally thought to arms as child soldiers is generally thought to be in the range of 300,000.” – United Nationsbe in the range of 300,000.” – United Nations
• The Average Age in two separate surveys are The Average Age in two separate surveys are 12 years old 12 years old
Why Children?Why Children?• ImpressionableImpressionable
• Easy to brainwashEasy to brainwash• Given drugsGiven drugs• UneducatedUneducated• Obedient Obedient
• No alternativesNo alternatives• No familyNo family• Needs protectionNeeds protection• Needs money to support themselves or Needs money to support themselves or loved onesloved ones
• Sense of order Sense of order
• ImpressionableImpressionable• Easy to brainwashEasy to brainwash• Given drugsGiven drugs• UneducatedUneducated• Obedient Obedient
• No alternativesNo alternatives• No familyNo family• Needs protectionNeeds protection• Needs money to support themselves or Needs money to support themselves or loved onesloved ones
• Sense of order Sense of order
Why Children?Why Children?• Singer Reading - Socio-Economic Changes - Technology Developments (small arms cheaper, easier to use, lighter, faster, more available)
- New type of warfare (no morals, goal is money
Cost effective - children eat less - occupy less space - more are available - don’t have to pay them
• Singer Reading - Socio-Economic Changes - Technology Developments (small arms cheaper, easier to use, lighter, faster, more available)
- New type of warfare (no morals, goal is money
Cost effective - children eat less - occupy less space - more are available - don’t have to pay them
Ishmael Beah Ishmael Beah
•Youtube clip: Ishmael Youtube clip: Ishmael Beah Beah http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozsOLdgp_y0&feature=related
•Youtube clip: Ishmael Youtube clip: Ishmael Beah Beah http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozsOLdgp_y0&feature=related
How Are They Acquired?How Are They Acquired?• Rebels (36 Countries – Human Rights Watch)
- Abduction/Force - Threatened to cut off limbs - Invisible Children of Uganda - Atrocities against own communities (excommunication)
Interview - Gabriel Pech
• Rebels (36 Countries – Human Rights Watch)
- Abduction/Force - Threatened to cut off limbs - Invisible Children of Uganda - Atrocities against own communities (excommunication)
Interview - Gabriel Pech
How Are They Acquired?How Are They Acquired?
• Governments (17 Gov’ts – HRW) - Recruited lost/poor children (invisible children)
- Persuasion (magical powers, brotherhood)
- Cultural (juju will protect)
• Governments (17 Gov’ts – HRW) - Recruited lost/poor children (invisible children)
- Persuasion (magical powers, brotherhood)
- Cultural (juju will protect)
How Are They Used?How Are They Used?
• Males for (in addition to mentioned before) fighting, suicide missions, supplies carriers.
• Females for sex, cooking, cleaning, etc.
• Training Camps teach duties - ex. Smallest boys closer to the enemy
• Males for (in addition to mentioned before) fighting, suicide missions, supplies carriers.
• Females for sex, cooking, cleaning, etc.
• Training Camps teach duties - ex. Smallest boys closer to the enemy
ConsequencesConsequences• ““Requiring children Requiring children to commit heinous to commit heinous acts…alters acts…alters identity: the identity: the children must…look children must…look to the commanders to the commanders for survival”for survival”
• ““Headaches, Headaches, irritability, irritability, tremors, digestive tremors, digestive problems, difficulty problems, difficulty sleeping”sleeping”
• ““Requiring children Requiring children to commit heinous to commit heinous acts…alters acts…alters identity: the identity: the children must…look children must…look to the commanders to the commanders for survival”for survival”
• ““Headaches, Headaches, irritability, irritability, tremors, digestive tremors, digestive problems, difficulty problems, difficulty sleeping”sleeping”
What Has Been DoneWhat Has Been DoneThe Convention on the Rights of the Child The Convention on the Rights of the Child
(1989)(1989)
The African Charter on the Rights and The African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the ChildWelfare of the Child
(Adopted by (Adopted by Organization of African Unity (OAU) in 1990, not Organization of African Unity (OAU) in 1990, not entered into force until 1999)entered into force until 1999)
The Rome Statute of the International The Rome Statute of the International Criminal CourtCriminal Court
(Adopted in(Adopted in 1998, entered into force in 2002) 1998, entered into force in 2002)
The Convention on the Rights of the Child The Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989)(1989)
The African Charter on the Rights and The African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the ChildWelfare of the Child
(Adopted by (Adopted by Organization of African Unity (OAU) in 1990, not Organization of African Unity (OAU) in 1990, not entered into force until 1999)entered into force until 1999)
The Rome Statute of the International The Rome Statute of the International Criminal CourtCriminal Court
(Adopted in(Adopted in 1998, entered into force in 2002) 1998, entered into force in 2002)
What Has Been DoneWhat Has Been Done
The ILO Convention on the Elimination The ILO Convention on the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour of the Worst Forms of Child Labour (1999)(1999)
The Optional Protocol to the The Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Convention on the Rights of the ChildChild
(Adopted in 2000, came into force in 2002)
The ILO Convention on the Elimination The ILO Convention on the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour of the Worst Forms of Child Labour (1999)(1999)
The Optional Protocol to the The Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Convention on the Rights of the ChildChild
(Adopted in 2000, came into force in 2002)
Example: Cote Example: Cote D’IvoireD’Ivoire
Example: Cote Example: Cote D’IvoireD’Ivoire
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-iQG_MPt2Ao
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-iQG_MPt2Ao
Example: LiberiaExample: Liberia
The typical child soldier in Liberia was a boy in primary school when he joined the faction (s). After spending a considerable time of 3-5 years fighting, he disarmed when he was between the ages of 15 and 17”
The typical child soldier in Liberia was a boy in primary school when he joined the faction (s). After spending a considerable time of 3-5 years fighting, he disarmed when he was between the ages of 15 and 17”
Issues with Current Programs
Issues with Current Programs
• Lack of infrastructure in Lack of infrastructure in many countriesmany countries
• Cultural Taboos--Girls, Cultural Taboos--Girls, especially, are not welcomed especially, are not welcomed back homeback home
• NGOs doing a majority of workNGOs doing a majority of work
• Lack of infrastructure in Lack of infrastructure in many countriesmany countries
• Cultural Taboos--Girls, Cultural Taboos--Girls, especially, are not welcomed especially, are not welcomed back homeback home
• NGOs doing a majority of workNGOs doing a majority of work
SolutionsSolutions
• International Community - Bring People (leaders) to ICC
- Ex. Situation in DRC. 1st case 2006 (Prosecuter vs Thomas Lubanga Dyilo)
- Trade Sanctions - Share traditions/attitudes
• International Community - Bring People (leaders) to ICC
- Ex. Situation in DRC. 1st case 2006 (Prosecuter vs Thomas Lubanga Dyilo)
- Trade Sanctions - Share traditions/attitudes
Solutions Solutions • Governments - state to state agreements (US) - Dialogue - Guilty must admit to fault (show commitments, cultural changes)
- Protective Legislation/Enforcement
- Committee to Watch? Report? - Get rid of small arms - Re-integration
• Governments - state to state agreements (US) - Dialogue - Guilty must admit to fault (show commitments, cultural changes)
- Protective Legislation/Enforcement
- Committee to Watch? Report? - Get rid of small arms - Re-integration
Solutions Solutions • NGOs - put pressure on governments - Shame practice - Educate people on issue - ex. Human Rights Watch, The Coalition to Stop The Use of Child Soldiers, Amnesty International
• NGOs - put pressure on governments - Shame practice - Educate people on issue - ex. Human Rights Watch, The Coalition to Stop The Use of Child Soldiers, Amnesty International
Solutions Solutions
• Any Other Suggestions? • Any Other Suggestions?
Picture creditsPicture credits• Slide 3: http://www.foxnews.com/images/180132/0_22_101305_child_soldier3.jpg
• Slide 6: http://www.hrw.org/campaigns/crp/crp-map.jpg
• Slide 8: http://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/human/image/p_survey.jpg
• Slide 3: http://www.foxnews.com/images/180132/0_22_101305_child_soldier3.jpg
• Slide 6: http://www.hrw.org/campaigns/crp/crp-map.jpg
• Slide 8: http://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/human/image/p_survey.jpg
CreditsCredits
• “Beyond Civil Society: Child Soldiers as Citizens in Mozambique” (JSTOR)
• UN – http://www.un.org/cyberschoolbus/briefing/soldiers/soldiers.pdf
Coalition – http://www.child-soldiers.org/childsoldiers/child-soldiers
Human Rights Watch - http://hrw.org/campaigns/crp/fact_sheet.html
UNICEF - "Fact Sheet: Child Soldiers," http://www.unicef.org/protection/files/childsoldiers.pdf.)
Quaker United Nations Office - Why do adolescents volunteer for armed forces or armed groups? (Rachel Brett)
Phillipine Coalition to Stop the Use of Children as Soldiers- Armed or Not, They Are Children: A Primer on the Use of Children as Soldiers in the Philippines
Coalition to stop the use of Child Soldiers - Global Report on Child Soldiers
http://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/human/child/survey/profile3.html
http://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/human/child/survey/challenge.html
• “Beyond Civil Society: Child Soldiers as Citizens in Mozambique” (JSTOR)
• UN – http://www.un.org/cyberschoolbus/briefing/soldiers/soldiers.pdf
Coalition – http://www.child-soldiers.org/childsoldiers/child-soldiers
Human Rights Watch - http://hrw.org/campaigns/crp/fact_sheet.html
UNICEF - "Fact Sheet: Child Soldiers," http://www.unicef.org/protection/files/childsoldiers.pdf.)
Quaker United Nations Office - Why do adolescents volunteer for armed forces or armed groups? (Rachel Brett)
Phillipine Coalition to Stop the Use of Children as Soldiers- Armed or Not, They Are Children: A Primer on the Use of Children as Soldiers in the Philippines
Coalition to stop the use of Child Soldiers - Global Report on Child Soldiers
http://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/human/child/survey/profile3.html
http://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/human/child/survey/challenge.html
