Argumentative Essay On Child Soldiers

For years the use of children in both conflict between states and civil war has been evident, children are being forced by bad people and throughout their false promises. Even this getting too far people don’t know what to do they’re afraid to defend themselves because they know what the commanders could do to them. They think they don’t have a way out. And even the parents are giving out their own children because they

Are you aware that right now, at this very moment, there is a group of young boys ages 8-13 who are clenching a gun being ordered to kill against their will? It’s understood that others opinions about the dangers of child soldiers being free are only because they don’t want to risk anything but, isn’t life all about taking risks? You risk your life leaving the house, and breathing. Also, countries should not prosecute child soldiers for the crimes they committed during wartime. There also should not be an international minimum age of criminal responsibility for war crimes and crimes against humanity. Here are three reasons why they should not be prosecuted or held responsible. Also that there should not be an age limit. One. Children are afraid, young, and clueless. Two. Children are 99.99% of the time drugged, forced, and brainwashed. “Children are often brainwashed and drugged before they are forced to fight. Their vulnerability can allow warlords to make them into cold-blooded killers” (O'Neill 1 ). Three. Children are independent, lonesome, and they want/need a family. One that gives them love.

What are child soldiers? Child soldiers are people under eighteen who partake in either a regular or irregular armed group in any way. According to Warchild there are an estimated 250,000 child soldiers in the world and often as a part of their recruitment they are forced to either kill or maim a loved one so that they cannot go back home. In Ishmael Beah’s novel A Long Way Gone (Memoirs of a Boy Soldier) the author recounts his life as a child soldier fighting on the government side in Sierra Leone from age thirteen to sixteen. This paper will be attempting to answer the questions of why certain armed groups use children, why it is wrong to do so, and how people are taking a stand to stop it.

This is the same situation that Juliet faced: “Young girls were forced into sexual relationships with men who were above our age. I was forced to become a rebel’s wife. They said “no issues” either you go with this man or we kill you. I got pregnant at a very early age with that man” (“Juliet’s Journey”). There are no excuses that can justify the treatment of child soldiers. Children are among the saddest victims of conflict: they rarely emerge from military service with a sense of their own worth and identity. Worse, they often experience violence that leaves them physically or psychologically scarred. Facing a difficult adolescence, many turn to drugs, alcohol, and anti-social behavior. No child should ever have to face the horrors and lasting effects of war.

In the middle east there is a lot of war, and a lot of fighting. These wars are brutal and part of the reason for that is because of child soldiers. In the sub sahara part of Africa, countries force young children to fight in wars. Some may think that these children are perpetrators, but it is obvious that these children are victims of brutal and unsophisticated crimes. They should be forgiven for their crimes and the people behind the real atrocity of forcing children to fight in wars, should be arrested and punished harshly.

These Children are being exploited from their families and then taking into custody. Human service reports that children are being brutally recruitment, by being taken away and often being harassed by older people. This is a society impact, this is a big problem, for the global impact, which can work together to reintegrate, child soldiers back to society to make them, a productive individuals. All around the world every child has dream of going to school and learning about everything, but in some states that's not the case they are compelled to become instruments of war kill, and to be killed. Child soldiers are being forced to give violent expression towards adults, they are often thought that adults are the main enemy and they are always thought that they are alone in this

As previously stated, child soldiers are typically viewed as more easily replaced than other soldiers. In turn, this leads to more brutal punishments and a lack of consideration for their wellbeing. The punishments inflicted on the children are similar or worse than the ones inflicted on their adult counterparts which imposes damage that is more destructive to a child than to an adult (Sierra Leone’s Former Child Soldiers). Additionally, the Revolutionary United Front used drugs and alcohol in order to control children and increase their intensity and because of this, many children quickly became addicts. A former child soldier, Ishamael Beah spoke of his experience of cocaine and marijuana withdrawal after being taken off the battle field

For many years, countless children have been used in wars. These kids are forced by their scheming commanders with drugs, false obligations, and threats. They are told to kill innocent people, destroy homes and buildings, act as spies, and so much more. According to child-soldiers.org, “two million children have been killed in conflict. Over one million have been orphaned, over six million have been seriously injured or permanently disabled and over ten million have been left with serious psychological trauma.” Child soldiers endure many unimaginable sights, sounds, and actions that are very harmful to their young, developing minds. While child soldiers are accountable for many crimes, they should still be given a second chance instead of

Child Soldiers involves the unlawful recruitment of children under the age of 18, often through force, fraud or coercion. The use of child soldiers takes on three main forms: Direct involvement in armed conflict, whereby the child may be expected to partake in the fighting whilst being armed with a weapon, Indirect involvement through support roles, such as being a messenger, scout, cook, clearing landmines or even as sexual slaves and finally the use for particular political advantage, such as propaganda or as a human shield.

Ishmael Beah lived in a peaceful village, where war seemed like a distant threat. He left his home to compete in a hip hop contest, and while he was gone, he heard that the civil war taking place had hit his town. He went back, but couldn’t find his family. He then searches for a year, going village to village, just to find them dead at their new home. He then finds a “safe haven,” but instead, they give the kids drugs and force them to fight in their army. Eventually, the UN came to rescue them. He was then granted amnesty in The United States of America.

Around 120,000 adolescent children are now engaged in conflicts throughout Africa (“Child Soldiers: An Overview” 4). In Sudan, for instance, thousands of children, some as young as 12, were recruited against their will into separatist and government groups (“Child Soldiers: An Overview” 5). Thousands more children have been enlisted into the armed forces throughout Asia and the Pacific. The most significant numbers are in Afghanistan, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, and recently, Cambodia. Myanmar, a country in Asia, has some of the most child soldiers throughout the world, with children being recruited into both non-government and government armed forces (“Child Soldiers: An Overview” 6). The number of child soldiers has been decreasing annually, but these children are still being taken against their will.

Child soldiers. Most can not fathom the idea of children in war, less the fact that those children are fighting. It is a terrible thought to have to think about, especially when America now has the power to help and has been reluctant to use it (source 2). None the less though, children from ages 10 and up are being recruited for war (source 2). According to the United Nations, 14 countries around the world are recruiting children and used in armed conflicts as informants, guards, porters, cooks, and often, as front-line armed combatants (Source 2). So, should these child soldiers be granted amnesty if, or when, they are rescued? Child soldiers should be granted amnesty for their previous war crimes.

Child Soldiers have become a hot topic over the years. Mainly whether these children should be held accountable for their war crimes or not. Most of these children were forced into the war. Either because they needed food and shelter or would face death from the other side if they didn't join. A lot of people are saying that these children were forced into it and brainwashed to fight, and they would be correct. The problem is that many people are only wanting to not punish “children”, but the age when someone becomes an adults varies from state to state and country to country. Another thing is that age shouldn’t matter when it comes to if they should be convicted or not. Some adults were also forced into war as well. Lastly how do we define what a choice really is during a war. Since choices are far and few between. The decision whether to convict a soldier, not just a child one, should be if said person was forced into the war or not. It should have nothing to do with age.

In the last decade child soldiering has extended over a large portion of the world. Restrained access to schooling, food and lack of income causes emotional problems. Not only do children have to witness their parents and families being killed but they are also raped, beaten and go through things adolescents should not go through. Being a child a soldier has a negative impact on the child. Separated from their families, facing psychological problems and being brain washed are all issues child soldiers have to face before they even reach puberty. A Child Soldier is under the age of eighteen and can be male or female. Similar to gangs some children leave school because they were lured and promised of a better life. While some children willingly join because they have no other option others don’t voluntarily join; they are abducted by subjection from parents and are used as human shields. Parents are killed by their own children and are nearly threatened and ordered by rebels. Children have to kill their families, or the rebels will harm the children. Parents tell their children to follow the rebel’s instructions to ensure that their children will live because they know pressure brought upon their children so they tell them to do as the rebels say even if it means killing them. The love of the parents is so strong because they risk their own lives by trying to persuade or bribe rebels not to take their children. Parents are outnumbered by rebels and can’t help their children if

A reason that child soldiers are recruited are that they are easily manipulated. At a young age, children’s minds are easier to persuade. Thier minds are not developed enough until they are 18 years of age.