Introduction to the Concept of Child Soldiers
Imagine being away from home, not knowing whether or not you will see the day that you return. Many children around the world today face this. They are kidnapped from their homes or sent away to become child soldiers by their own family and forced to fight in conflicts that should be resolved by adults. These children face emotional and physical damage. Not only this, but the use of child soldiers hurts a country's economy. Children are used because of their practicality--, their flexibility to follow orders, the simplicity of recruiting new children, and an obvious reason: war. The use of child soldiers can be solved, be it through prevention or just confronting the country's using them, as well as providing help to children in order to get out of armies through options other than desertion, which is very risky.
Countries that Use or Previously Used Child Soldiers
Around the world, countries are using child soldiers. Some countries that have used child soldiers are Afghanistan, Iran, at one time Germany, and many more (Gettleman). Most of these child soldiers come from Africa because of their many conflicts (Gettleman). Africa is said to be the continent where child soldiers most often take the place of adult soldiers. It’s imperative that this problem is dealt with because of the alarming number of child soldiers present in the world today. In 2001, there were about 300,000 child soldiers around the world (Mazurana).
Child Soldiers: Statistics
For starters, in the article “Armed & Underage” it states, ”While the number of conflicts involving child soldiers has dropped since 2004 from 27 to 15, human-rights experts estimate that more than 200,000 children worldwide are still being used as combatants, usually against their will” (Gettleman). The quote explains that although the number of child soldiers has dropped by almost one-third of what it was before, there are still many child soldiers around the world.
Children are Forced to Face things that Only Adults Should Face
To begin with, children as young as 8 and as old as 17 are forced to experience the brutalities of war (Kim). This worldwide problem should be announced and taken care of before it gets out of hand. Each day, there are many child soldiers around the world fighting for wars and conflicts that they shouldn’t be a part of. This great problem that we face today affects the economy of the countries involved in it, affects the lives and wellbeing of the children, and it also affects the families of the children involved.
Maltreatment of Child Soldiers
These children are treated harshly. Boy or girl, they are treated brutally, being forced to commit unspeakable atrocities such as murdering and raping civilians, enemy soldiers, and even family members (Kim). Because these children are forced to do these things, they also suffer many mental and emotional problems. As the children are exposed to the horrors of war, their minds will get warped and they will develop violent behaviors (Bruce).
Child Soldiers: Psychological Problems After Release
The article “Armed & Underage” states,’Their growth has been stunted by conflict-induced famines, their psyches damaged by all the killings they have witnessed. ‘What do I enjoy?’ Awil asks. ‘I enjoy the gun” (Gettleman).
According to this quote, children released into the real world after being involved with armed conflicts acquire violent behaviors and acquire a violent way of thinking. Furthermore, the children are not the only ones affected by this problem. Parents and family members of the children are also affected. The children involved in armed conflicts as child soldiers are usually torn away from their families, and because of this, they suffer not only psychological problems but physical and mental problems as well (Bruce).
According to this quote, children released into the real world after being involved with armed conflicts acquire violent behaviors and acquire a violent way of thinking. Furthermore, the children are not the only ones affected by this problem. Parents and family members of the children are also affected. The children involved in armed conflicts as child soldiers are usually torn away from their families, and because of this, they suffer not only psychological problems but physical and mental problems as well (Bruce).
Child Soldiers and their Effect on a Country’s Economy
Child soldiers affect many people, but they also affect the economy in a negative way. Child soldiers in general lessen the cost of war not only due to the lack of payment to them but also due to the cost of war itself causes many economic problems in countries taking part in it.
Child Soldiers: Effect on Africa’s Economy
In the book, “War and Children”, it is stated, ”A recent report by the British charity Oxfam estimated that between 1990 and 2005, the cost of armed conflict to Africa's economic development has been 284 billion dollars-around $18 billion dollars a year. This sum of money is equivalent to the amount of aid that international donors allocated to the continent during the same time period to improve the living conditions of many of the poorest people” (Dupuy).
This quote suggests that much of the money that is supposed to be used to help Africa and its economy is instead being used to fight wars. The fact that Africa uses all this money on war is very bad for the economy in Africa. As the economy in Africa deteriorates from the many conflicts and wars fought there, the health and wellbeing of the children are put at risk (Dupuy). In addition, because of the cost of war on the economy and on the citizens, war has been labeled as “development in reverse” (Dupuy). This means that instead of the country taking part in a war developing and growing in their economy, they are taking steps backwards in terms of their economy. All in all, the use of child soldiers is a major problem that happens all around the world and it should be resolved.
This quote suggests that much of the money that is supposed to be used to help Africa and its economy is instead being used to fight wars. The fact that Africa uses all this money on war is very bad for the economy in Africa. As the economy in Africa deteriorates from the many conflicts and wars fought there, the health and wellbeing of the children are put at risk (Dupuy). In addition, because of the cost of war on the economy and on the citizens, war has been labeled as “development in reverse” (Dupuy). This means that instead of the country taking part in a war developing and growing in their economy, they are taking steps backwards in terms of their economy. All in all, the use of child soldiers is a major problem that happens all around the world and it should be resolved.