Child soldiers are any children under 18 who are recruited by armed forces or rebel groups and forced to work as soldiers, slaves, or suicide bombers. In 2011, 12 countries were found to use child soldiers, rising to 25 countries by 2013. Most child soldiers join due to social or economic pressures and the belief that the army will provide food and security. Girls make up at least a third of child soldiers in countries like Uganda, where they are often raped or forced to become wives of commanders.
2. What Is A Child Soldier?
A child soldier is any child under the age
of 18 that is recruited (forced) to join
armed forces or rebel groups and made to
work as a soldier, slave, or even, suicide
bombers. Many of these kids are under
the age of 10.
3. In 2011, 12 countries were found guilty of using
child soldiers. Two years later, the number rose to
25. More countries are still suspected of this crime.
Map Updated As Of 2001
4. The Majority of children that join armed forces are
there because of social or economic pressure.
They also believe that the army will provide food
and security.
5. Not just boys are used as child soldiers. In
countries like Uganda, at least a third of the child
soldiers are girls. In most cases, the girls are raped,
or given to the commanders to be used as “wives”.
7. You can do something as simple as donating a
dollar to Peace Direct, a company that is devoted to
helping people in third world countries. They help
people such as child soldiers, the homeless, and
women who have lost all their rights.
8. You can make posters and put them up all around
your school. This creates awareness. The more
people that know about the issue, the better the
chance something will get done about it!
A Poster Made By Amnesty International
9. Go out to Walmart and buy a 20 dollar album by a
band that sends proceeds to worldly organizations.
Something like the album “Enfants soldats d'ici et
d'ailleurs”. They send all profits to two organizations
dedicated to stopping the use of child soldiers.
It's not just helping the cause, it's also a sweet jam!
10. Want More Info?
Please check out peacedirect.org for more
information on this horrific topic and other ways for
you to help!
11. Conclusion
Personally, I find this topic terrifying. It makes me
sick thinking about kids my age (and even younger)
being forced to fight and live in harsh conditions. I
also know that these kids are no longer at the point
where they care anymore. The horrid sights and
experiences they went through have eaten their
souls to the point where they, are completely
empty. If you look into their eyes, you can tell, that
there is noting left to these poor children.
12. In this final plead for help, I am asking you to
please, reach out and give something-acknowledgement,
recognition, a dollar, or even a
conversation about this issue to help it come to an
end. Awareness, is key
No More Child Soldiers
13. Credits and Sources
http://www.unicef.org/sowc96/2csoldrs.htm
http://www.dosomething.org/facts/11-facts-about-child-soldiers
http://www.peacedirect.org/
http://www.hrw.org/news/2008/12/03/facts-about-child-soldiers
http://www.culturesofresistance.org/end-child-soldiers
https://www.google.com/imghp?gws_rd=ssl
