1. The Problem of
Child Soldiers
By Allison Reilly
March 3rd, 2008
Amnesty International
2. The Basics
Anyone under the age of 18 who is
involved militarily in conflict
300,000 child soldiers fighting in
conflicts around the world
Child Soldiers in the DRC
3. Yes, It is a Big Deal
Uniquely vulnerable to military recruitment
because of emotional and physical
immaturity
Easily manipulated and drawn into
violence that they are too young to resist
or understand
Technological advances in weaponry and
proliferation have contributed to the
increased use of child soldiers
Lightweight automatic weapons can be
used by children as easily as adults
4. Yes, It is a Big Deal
Most likely to become child soldiers if they
are poor, separated from their families,
displaced from their homes, living in a
combat zone or have limited access to
education
Many join because of economic or social
pressure, or because they believe that the
group will offer food or security.
Others are forcibly recruited, "press-
ganged" or abducted by armed groups.
5. Yes, It is a Big Deal
In some countries, like Nepal, Sri Lanka and
Uganda, a third or more of the child soldiers
were reported to be girls. In some conflicts, girls
may be raped, or given to military commanders
as "wives
May serve as porters, cooks, guards,
messengers or spies
Many are pressed into combat - forced to the
front lines or sent into minefields ahead of older
troops
Sometimes forced to commit atrocities against
their own family or neighbors.
6. Testimonials
“Early on when my brothers and I were
captured, the LRA explained to us that all
five brothers couldn’t serve in the LRA
because we would not perform well. So
they tied up my two younger brothers and
invited us to watch. Then they beat them
with sticks until [they] died. They told us it
would give us strength to fight. My
youngest brother was nine years old.”
- Martin, recruited by the Lord’s
Resistance Army in Uganda at age twelve
7. Testimonials
"When the mayi-mayi attacked my village, we all ran away.
..the soldiers captured all the girls, even the very young.
Once with the soldiers, you were forced to "marry" one of
the soldiers…If you refused, they would kill you... My
"husband" did not beat me too often. ..But one day, he was
killed in an attack. I felt I was in danger and I should leave.
On the way, as I was pregnant, I had my baby. I was alone
in the bush, without medication. I still have pain from this.
Then I went to the village of my "husband", but his parents
rejected me and my child, after taking all my belongings.
They blamed me for his death. I wanted to go to my home,
but it is so far away, I was afraid the mayi-mayi would find
me and capture me again."
-Jasime, from DRC, was recruited in June 2002 by an
insurgent group (mayi-mayi) in South-Kivu, when she was
12. She is now 16 and has a four-month-old baby
9. What Has Been Done
Geneva Conventions
Optional Protocol to the Convention
on the Rights of the Child on the
Involvement of Children in Armed
Conflict
10. What You Can Do
Sign the Petition!
Available both here and at SLAMnesty
Action Appeal!
Write a letter to the Russian government
Donate!
Amnesty International or Child Soldier
Coalition Trust
Atlas Week Event!