The Invisible The Invisible ChildrenChildren

By: Jimerr and NydiraBy: Jimerr and Nydira

Introduction Introduction

The invisible children The invisible children documentary is about documentary is about children in Africa who are children in Africa who are kidnapped and forced to kidnapped and forced to become soldiers. No one become soldiers. No one cares but their families. This cares but their families. This has been going on for years has been going on for years now and it needs to stop.now and it needs to stop.

Invisible children Invisible children

These are what the children in Uganda look like.

Night CommutersNight CommutersIn northern Uganda an estimated 30,000 In northern Uganda an estimated 30,000 night commuters (children) flee from night commuters (children) flee from their homes a night. their homes a night.

They go to urban areas and the the They go to urban areas and the the centre of larger camps for internally centre of larger camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs). displaced persons (IDPs).

If the children are captured by the rebels, If the children are captured by the rebels, they are torn from their families and they are torn from their families and forced to become soldiers under the forced to become soldiers under the maniacal (violent and dangerous) maniacal (violent and dangerous) leadership of Joseph Kony. leadership of Joseph Kony.

Pictures Of The Pictures Of The Night CommutersNight Commuters

Child SoldiersChild SoldiersJoseph Kony's army recruits its soldiers from the villages Joseph Kony's army recruits its soldiers from the villages and schools of northern Uganda through abductions.  and schools of northern Uganda through abductions.  Thousands of children have been robbed of childhood Thousands of children have been robbed of childhood and, in many cases, of life itself. and, in many cases, of life itself. 

Boys and girls are turned into ruthless killers who no Boys and girls are turned into ruthless killers who no longer feel, but are numbed within, and their souls have longer feel, but are numbed within, and their souls have become seared by the atrocities they have seen and in become seared by the atrocities they have seen and in which they have forced to participate. which they have forced to participate.

Children 10 years old are taught to kill, often beginning Children 10 years old are taught to kill, often beginning with their own families.  Others are killed and a child is with their own families.  Others are killed and a child is let to live and then the child is commanded to kill in let to live and then the child is commanded to kill in order to stay alive.  If children do escape, they will never order to stay alive.  If children do escape, they will never be the same again. be the same again.

A society suffers when children are used in armed A society suffers when children are used in armed conflict because they are not able to advance their conflict because they are not able to advance their education, which can result in a continued cycle of education, which can result in a continued cycle of poverty and illiteracy. It also leads to a more violent poverty and illiteracy. It also leads to a more violent culture. culture.

Pictures of Child Pictures of Child Soldiers Soldiers

Questions!!!Questions!!!

What are the moral issues What are the moral issues behind the use of children in behind the use of children in

armed conflict?armed conflict?children and women also children and women also face a heightened risk of face a heightened risk of rape, sexual humiliation, rape, sexual humiliation, prostitution and other forms prostitution and other forms of gender-based violence of gender-based violence during armed conflict. These during armed conflict. These risks are downplayed as an risks are downplayed as an unfortunate but inevitable unfortunate but inevitable side effect of war.side effect of war.

Identify the reason for Identify the reason for using children in armed using children in armed

conflict.conflict.Children are used in armed Children are used in armed conflict because they are easier conflict because they are easier to condition and brainwash. to condition and brainwash.

They don't eat much food, don’t They don't eat much food, don’t get paid and have an get paid and have an underdeveloped sense of danger underdeveloped sense of danger so are easier to send into the so are easier to send into the line of fire.line of fire.

They help brain wash and take They help brain wash and take out other children from their out other children from their homes, schools and playgrounds homes, schools and playgrounds and send them to the areas of and send them to the areas of tensiontension..

How does society suffer How does society suffer when children are used in when children are used in

armed conflict?armed conflict?

A society suffers when A society suffers when children are used in armed children are used in armed conflict because they are not conflict because they are not able to advance their able to advance their education, which can result in education, which can result in a continued cycle of poverty a continued cycle of poverty and illiteracy. It also leads to and illiteracy. It also leads to a more violent culture. a more violent culture.

International documents and International documents and protocols and what do they say protocols and what do they say

about the use of children in about the use of children in armed conflict. armed conflict.

The documents and protocols states that The documents and protocols states that 18 is the minimum age for direct 18 is the minimum age for direct participation in hostilities, for participation in hostilities, for recruitment into armed groups, and for recruitment into armed groups, and for compulsory recruitment by compulsory recruitment by governments. It also states that States governments. It also states that States may accept volunteers from the age of may accept volunteers from the age of 16 but must deposit a binding 16 but must deposit a binding declaration at the time of ratification or declaration at the time of ratification or accession, setting out their minimum accession, setting out their minimum voluntary recruitment age and outlining voluntary recruitment age and outlining certain safeguards for such recruitment.certain safeguards for such recruitment.

Where Child Where Child Soldiers Are Used Soldiers Are Used

TodayToday

There are an estimated 250,000 child soldiers in the world today.

Facts On The Facts On The GraphGraph

The graph shows the places where The graph shows the places where there are children under the age of 18 there are children under the age of 18 reported in armed conflict during 1998.reported in armed conflict during 1998.(red)(red)

It also shows the places where there It also shows the places where there are children under the age of 15 are children under the age of 15 reported in armed conflicts during the reported in armed conflicts during the year of 1998. (pink)year of 1998. (pink)

Why Are There Child Soldiers In Why Are There Child Soldiers In Some Countries But Not Some Countries But Not

Others??Others??

There are child soldiers in some There are child soldiers in some countries and not others because most countries and not others because most countries have law banding child countries have law banding child soldiers under the age of 18. Some soldiers under the age of 18. Some countries use child soldiers because countries use child soldiers because they are easier to condition and they are easier to condition and brainwash. They don't eat much food, brainwash. They don't eat much food, don't need paying much and have an don't need paying much and have an underdeveloped sense of danger so are underdeveloped sense of danger so are easier to send into the line of fire.easier to send into the line of fire.

Nydira’s ThoughtsNydira’s Thoughts

Jimerr’s Thoughts Jimerr’s Thoughts The documentary The documentary Invisible ChildrenInvisible Children was was a very painful documentary because a very painful documentary because children were forced to kill and murder children were forced to kill and murder their own families and friends. After their own families and friends. After watching the documentary I felt as if I watching the documentary I felt as if I should do something to help these should do something to help these defenseless children. They have a very defenseless children. They have a very touching story that could break hearts touching story that could break hearts and we all should help.and we all should help.

Conclusion Conclusion In conclusion Joseph Kony must be In conclusion Joseph Kony must be stopped!stopped!

Do It For The Innocent Children!!!! Do It For The Innocent Children!!!!

Resources Resources http://www.child-soldiers.org/childsoldiers/questions-and-answers

http://childsoldiersoftheworld.wordpress.com/statistics/

http://www.warchild.org.uk/issues/child-soldiers

http://www.child-soldiers.org/childsoldiers/international-standards