Should Child Soldiers Receive Amnesty

They include messengers, porters, spies, and sex slaves. So great is the diversity of tasks that many advocates now prefer the less punchy but more accurate term, children associated with fighting forces.” (Gates para 5) Why should an undereducated child who hasn’t committed any crimes besides being involved in a war that they didn’t want to fight be prosecuted for anything. Another example of how some child soldiers aren’t killers comes from an article titled “Prosecuting Child Soldiers For Their Own Safety.” this article says that not all child soldiers murder but some cook or as said in the article “Most girls are forcibly abducted and given roles as cooks, porters, spies, “wives”, and in combat, says Susan McKay of the University of Wyoming, who has interviewed girl soldiers throughout central Africa.” (Leahy para 10) clearly not all children in combat have committed crimes but are rather victims and shouldn’t be prosecuted for being in the military but should be helped and given a second chance at their

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 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

The stakes are high, and the risks are obvious. We must remember that we are dealing with lives of children, not hardened criminals. Child soldiers and previous ones have a lot on their shoulders and by granting them amnesty we will be able to provide a better future for them. Many countries have participated in committing the atrocious crime of using children to fight in wars as part of their armies, some of them being Sierra Leone, Afghanistan, Uganda and many others. Many people believe that previous child soldiers should be put through court to be convicted of the war crimes that they committed, but this often leads to time in prison and hard feelings of violence towards the government. There is nothing for these children in jail. They simply cannot thrive in that ghastly environment and it should be a crime to stop them right in the middle of their development. We must grant these children amnesty because what they did was only to survive and we can easily adjust them to a new life by providing them with proper education.

Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin, Hideki Tojo. What did all of these leaders of armies have in common; the use of child soldiers. For 1000’s of years children have been used as soldiers during war. They are usually used against their will to fight, work, cook, tend to wounded soldiers, and much more. Although some willingly join as a way to earn money or find a better life, many are forced into it. Now that the use of child soldiers is becoming more widespread than ever, many are debating on whether or not they deserve amnesty. After reading multiple articles and research, I think child soldiers should be given amnesty unless they kill.

Can you imagine every day being drugged, beaten, and threatened into doing something horrible such as killing someone? I am talking about the life of a child soldier. Every day thousands of kids are being forced into their country's army and now they are killing many people. So the main question is should we grant them amnesty or not? Some may not agree with me

Since most of these kids are forced to fight, how can they be punished if they are most likely going to be killed if they disobey. If people do disobey, they are made examples out of. These kids are terrified because they don’t know how bad their punishment will be. A former child soldier named Ishmael was forced to fight for multiple years, and he said,” If you disobey, you are killed,” (Beah 2007). He was always in constant threat from his commander because in Beah’s book, he explains how dangerous it could be if you disobeyed. Many children were massacred. There are 200,000 children forced into fighting a pointless and unrewarding war. All of them suffer everyday from the war, it’s become all they know.

Child soldiers were kids that were forced to kill americans. They shouldn’t be send to jail. Why? Because what they did they had no other option , they’re too young many soldiers were scarf for life & they have a life ahead of them.

The side that argues prosecuting the child soldiers says kids were given the option to stay or leave, and most chose to stay. That is only partly true. It is true that they are given the option. Yet, the children indirectly forced to stay. Because they have become addicted to the drugs the warlords gave them, they are now dependent on them for those drugs and simply cannot leave, as it reads on debatewise.org. Also, Ishmael Beah points out that through the war, they have gained a connection to their commanders and fellow soldiers. For some, including Ishmael, it is the only family they have left. So, they may, indeed, choose to stay, but not for the reason the many believe. Instead of staying for the fighting, the stay for of family. Those who argue that child soldiers should be considered the perpetrators also say that if we grant amnesty to the soldiers, there would be no justice for the victims they killed. This is completely agreeable and understandable. It is agreeable that there should be punishment given in order to fulfill justice for the victims. However, in order for justice to be fully satisfied, the children should not be the ones punished, but rather, the warlords who wish to come to the US from their country of origin. The warlords drug the child soldiers and kill those who do not follow orders. They also force some to join. If child soldiers were

As reported by Forbes.com 300,000 child soldiers are active in conflicts around the world. 40% of armed forces (including national armies, militias, gangs, terrorist organizations and resistance forces) in the world use children. They are then scared and change completely. Whether it is attitude or physically, the children are changed because of the horrible impact the grown adults on the little adolescents.These child soldiers should be given amnesty because they are brainwashed and manipulated, forced against their will, and are intimidated more easily than adults.

Imagine you are woken up one night to find a group kidnappers who are taking you away to serve in the military, and having to watch the killing of your parents right in front of you right after. This is what some young children, who are now soldier, had to experience. Vision.org states that “UNICEF reports that the LRA has abducted children as young as 5 but mostly between the ages of 8 and 16, often after killing their parents in front of them. The young “recruits” are then forced to march to southern Sudan. Those who can’t carry their loads or keep pace with the others are killed. Those who attempt escape are severely punished.” It is obviously not their fault that this is happening, therefore child soldiers should be given amnesty. Their commanders frequently drug them, there are countries funding certain militaries that allow child soldiers. This allows their commanders to keep drafting children. Finally, they are brainwashed during

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.

Human-rights experts estimate around 200,000 children are still being used as child soldiers. Child soldiers should not be prosecuted, it’s just not right. Child soldiers are forced to kill, sometimes at war, and sometimes as terrorists. Child soldiers are usually drawn because they are provided safety and basic needs. They are not at fault, they should be given rehabilitation, and they are very unlike child criminals.

Children have been forced to fight in the army, in the middle of a war. Ages 9-13 are given deadly weapons in a innocent hand for war matters. Whatever the general says, they do. Most of these children are threatened with their lives, or threatened with their loved ones lives. No matter what, they have to listen to the generals command. Even though these children committed horrible acts during their time in war they should be given amnesty or legally forgiven by the United Nations. Others may have their own opinion on this situation but these child soldiers should be given amnesty.

Did you know in war torn countries millions of kids are being kidnapped and ripped away from their families by terrorist leaders to fight? Hundreds of kids each day are being torn away from their homes and the people they love. The kids are forced to fight for terrorist groups and are brainwashed,with drugs and alcohol, to believe it's the right thing to do.Child soldiers should be given amnesty because they are forced and brainwashed into violent crimes.