Child Soldier Argumentative Essay

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.

Child soldiers do deserve amnesty, as long as they go through therapy and mental rehabilitation. Child soldiers are often forcibly recruited, so most of them don’t want to hurt or kill. Although some say child soldiers don’t deserve amnesty, most of the child soldiers don’t want to kill or harm others. And although some child soldiers want to hurt and/or kill others, all child soldiers deserve amnesty because they are just kids; so they should have therapy or mental rehabilitation before total forgiveness, so in all, all child soldiers deserve amnesty somehow.

Letting children soldiers receive amnesty would show that the government doesn’t enforce the law for everyone. In the United States, children who have committed a crime can take responsibility for that act at the age of fourteen. Shouldn’t the same law be in place for people who have fought in a war over fourteen? Aren’t they committing a crime too, like killing soldiers. In Child Soldiers it says, “...Many believe that child soldiers are mere replicas of child criminals; child criminals are prosecuted...If a child can be convicted for murder under these domestic laws there should be no exception for child soldiers just because their crimes occurred in wartime.” This shows that children soldiers should not be forgiven because everyone should have equal consequences for equal acts, which means children soldiers should not be given

A lot of people disagree that children should not be prosecutions because they are not responsible for their actions and the only reason they are including young people is because they know that they would not be blamed but the kids are. Prosecution only happen after the war has ended so those who recruit child soldiers will not take this into consideration. Basically it’s saying prosecution only happens when a war it’s finish or about to start. So there’s no reason why the children should be blamed for their actions. Child soldiers often victims of the war

They rightfully deserve a better life rather to live in the shadow of their past. While of course they must be safe first and clearly not to far off from “normal” so they can start their new life and regain control of their decisions. So there is no reason to not accept their mistakes that were forced upon them and granting amnesty for these kids. Instead of forever being a child soldier give them a better future so they can call themselves a teacher, a doctor, a CEO, or a father/ mother, but never be a prisoner to their

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

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

When it comes to prosecuting young children solders there are two very strong arguments. One brings up that the child soldiers are not morally responsive for their actions

Child soldiers are a big problem in countries around the world. Just because it is not a problem in our country we should still be informed about it. Child soldiers are victims not criminals. Kids do not know what life is like here in America, or life in other countries. They think it is normal to fight in the military at a very young age. The military leaders brainwash the kids, kids are forced to fight and girls are getting used by the members.

All around the world more than 10 million children under the age of 18 are fighting in a war. More than half voluntarily, and the other fourth forced. These children are drugged, and taught that it is good to be a slaughterer, a murderer. Yes, some don’t have a choice. But to think of all the things they were mindlessly taught. Do you really think they can change, just like that? Child soldiers have been responsible for some of the most brutal and violent acts in wartime, and many who are released into the real world, end up going back into their old ways. Not prosecuting child soldiers may encourage commanders to use more child soldiers to commit war crimes that would otherwise be punished if an adult did them. Do we really want a bunch of

Some believe that these children should be prosecuted because of the horrific acts they have committed. The author of Child Soldiers reveals that not all child soldiers are abducted and forced into the military. Some of these child soldiers chose to go into the military. For example, the author states, “Children often become child soldiers in acts of patriotism and in want to avenge the deaths of their family members. Furthermore, it would be false to proclaim that all

Wouldn’t we treat anyone else the same way? Some people may think we should treat child soldiers the same way as we would treat a murder or a rapist. These kids are killing many innocent people. Also, some people think they are young and so they should be let go. Only if scientist can do tests that prove the kids did not find pleasure and/or didn’t choose this life they should be let go.

“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.

Should child soldiers be prosecuted or given full amnesty?. Child soldiers are being persecuted around the world for crimes they were forced to commit. I think that the child soldiers should be given full amnesty because they were forced to kill. And they were forced to do stuff they didn’t wanted to do like drink alcohol and take drugs.