Life After War: The Challenges of Former Child Soldiers
Every year, February 12 is commemorated as the International Day Against the Use of Child Soldiers. On this day, information from international organizations and non-governmental organizations operating in this field is compiled to shed light on how and for what purposes children are used as soldiers around the world.
According to UN reports, children under the age of 18 who are used for any purpose by the army or armed groups are defined as “child soldiers”. This includes recruitment and training for military purposes, as well as being used as human shields, suicide bombers, spies, cleaners, cooks, messengers, or even sexually abused. It is estimated that more than 105 thousand children around the world are currently being used as soldiers by the army or armed groups, with the number expected to rise, especially in regions experiencing conflict in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia.
There are several factors behind the use of children as soldiers, including the high youth population in conflict-ridden regions, decreased numbers of men participating in conflicts, and poverty. Children are more easily manipulated and pressured by armies or armed groups, making them vulnerable to recruitment. Additionally, child soldiers provide tactical advantages in conflicts and terrorist attacks, such as acting as human shields, carrying out unexpected attacks, espionage, surveillance, or sexual exploitation.
According to a UN report titled “Children and Armed Conflict”, there were 27,180 serious violations detected in 2022, resulting in the deaths and injuries of thousands of children. However, the actual figures are believed to be much higher. The report also highlighted that efforts were being made to reintegrate 12,460 children with previous connections to armed groups into society.
While there has been a decrease in serious violations in some regions, an increase in child soldier recruitment and use has been observed in others.
The International Day Against the Use of Child Soldiers serves as a reminder to the world that the recruitment and use of child soldiers is a serious violation of human rights, and efforts must be made to protect and support the affected children.
