Child soldiers are any children under the age of 18 who are recruited by a state or non-state armed group and used as fighters, cooks, suicide bombers, human shields, messengers, spies, or for sexual purposes. In the opinion of many people including parents, children, and political figures, the use of children in wars or for the purpose of being soldiers is unfair and wrong. Therefore, based on all of the cruelties the children face such as their lives being threatened, their being taken from their families and forced to commit these heinous acts, and not being treated fairly while they are serving, it is in many’s opinion that these children be given amnesty, and are forgiven for their acts. The first reason child soldiers should be given amnesty, is because since they were being forced into being soldiers by having their lives threatened, they were scared for their lives and were scared to go against the orders of the people who were forcing them. Some would argue that the children were being brainwashed and were being told that what they were doing was the best and only option for them. And since they are little and do not know any better, they agreed, not understanding what they were about to do. An excerpt from the story, What We Can Learn From Child Soldiers, says the following, “They were told …show more content…
They are not being fed or cared for and since they are little, their bodies are not able to deal with all of the stress and lack of food and water. If they were treated better, than maybe they would be able to fight back and rebel against their captors. There are an estimated 250,000 child soldiers in the world right now, and if they were strong enough, they could rebel and escape. But if they escaped, then they would not be able to go home because their home would be gone. So if the children are treated better, they would have been able to stay longer and
Child soldiers should be given amnesty because they were forced into having to go to war and if they refused to then they were either shot or killed. They were drugged if they said yes so then they will actually go out into war and fight. These kids knew what they were doing but at the same time they did know what they were doing and they couldn't resist it because they would be shot or most likely killed. So think about it if you were in charge of a country with child soldiers asking for amnesty would you give the child soldiers
To begin with, child soldiers deserve amnesty because they don’t choose or are manipulated into becoming a child soldier.When children are put into a war most of the time they don’t have a choice or are manipulated into thinking what they are doing is okay.One
At a young age it’s difficult to grasp the concept of death, but as time passes, the youth turn into the old and the old turn into the deceased. Whether people like it or not, death plays a role in their lives and it’s something no one can escape. Child soldiers are forced to kill, and if they don’t then they too are killed. Young children are trained into fierce warriors every day, and stopping this action has proven to be difficult. It can be argued from a recruiter that brings in children that children are disposable, easy to train, and almost infinite. Most of these kids never receive a chance to do what they want in life, furthermore it seems like children, especially in Africa, are being picked off the streets they’re grapes on a grapevine. The International Justice System appeals to cases like this everyday, as it can be a struggle to understand if a child is truly remorseful, and if they deserve amnesty. Children who are forced into crime should be given a chance to redeem themselves, as they generally have no intention to cause harm.
Children aren’t mature enough to make life or death decisions. All child soldiers should have a chance to be forgiven. “Others enlist ‘voluntarily’, usually because they see few alternatives.” ("From Cradle to War." Amnesty International. Amnesty International USA, Web. 3 May 2016.) Children aren’t wise enough to make the decision, and deserve a chance to be forgiven, just like an immigrant has a chance to become a citizen. And even though once someone is killed, they are permanently dead, the children who kill don’t really know what they’re
Around the globe, in the past and present, children are being recruited to fight as soldiers in wars sometimes as young as 5 and up until they are 18 or older. These children soldiers should not be given amnesty because giving them amnesty could give others encouragement to keep using them, everyone has the same rights which means everyone has the same consequences, and some child soldiers have committed the most violent and harsh acts in wartime, and they can be dangerous to keep in our country.
Children are forced by commanders through false promises. Many believe that child soldiers are not morally responsible for the actions they perform. I think that is unfair for kids my age to be dealing with this situation and having to deal with this every day their commanders. And i agree child soldiers should not be blamed they are not responsible for their actions only if someone is telling them do or something bad will happen to you or his family. This type of situation is called amnesty because you are dealing with some commanders and some horrible living conditions.
Child soldiers are victims to an unfortunate outcome when viciously stolen from reality and their childhoods. Drugged, brainwashed,and armed these kids are taught at an impressionable age that in war it's kill or be killed. They are given no other option than to participate in this war, so child soldiers should be granted amnesty.
Child soldiers should not be granted amnesty because in some cases the soldier is in control of his or her actions. In paragraph 4 of “ Prosecuting Child Soldiers For Their Own Safety” it says “But there are cases of child soldiers clearly in control of their actions. “ who were not coerced, drugged or forced into committing
One topic that has been debated recently is whether child soldiers from other countries are victims or perpetrators, and whether they should be given amnesty or not. Many believe that child soldiers are the victims, since they have no choice but to join or else they would be killed, and should also be given amnesty since they don’t know what they are doing because they are filled up with drugs. However, those child soldiers should be mentally sane to be given amnesty and earn their citizenship the way immigrants earn their citizenship.
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.
They don’t deserve rehabilitation, let alone amnesty. People have expressed this belief with phrases such as, “child soldiers are no different from child criminals” (Debatewise) or, “these children knew exactly what they were doing and should not be excused from their actions simply because they are thought to be too young to take responsibility” (Debatewise). It cannot be denied that these statements have some truth to them, however harsh they may be. A nine-year-old in America who commits a crime shouldn’t be treated differently than a nine-year-old in Iraq with an army alongside him and a gun on his shoulder. And yet, if a juvenile American offender can be rehabilitated, child soldiers should be granted the same
Imagine being taken from your house and your family and being forced to fight in a war. This is what some child soldiers have to go through. Not to mention after they are taken they have to risk their lives and be forced to kill. Some are even as young as 5. Child soldiers should receive amnesty if they were young when they were taken, were forced, and show remorse after they were rescued and understand what they did.
One of the many reasons why child soldiers should have amnesty is because if they don’t get in the commander will kill he/she if they try to run away because they have no choice but to be drugged and go kill or get killed in general. The soldiers don’t know they are getting drugged badley. Child soldiers are not morally responsible for their actions. Children are often forced into fighting and have little choice over whether or not they enlist. They are following orders of adults rather than acting of their own free will. The recruiters of child soldiers also use drugs and alcohol
Child soldiers throughout third world areas should receive amnesty for their wrong doings. Many of them had no choice or chance to do what they believed was right. Most of these children were forced to fight by the officers and the leaders. There is also the counter argument that by providing these kids amnesty and allowing them to get away with their crimes, more kids will be thrown into battle because there is no punishment. In some cases for these child soldiers, it was either kill or be killed, and they did not want to die. Child soldiers should be granted amnesty and forgiven of their war crimes.
“Compelled to become instruments of war, to kill and be killed, child soldiers are forced to give violent expression to the hatreds of adults” (“Child Soldiers” 1). This quotation by Olara Otunnu explains that children are forced into becoming weapons of war. Children under 18 years old are being recruited into the army because of poverty issues, multiple economic problems, and the qualities of children, however, many organizations are trying to implement ways to stop the human rights violation.