Can child soldiers escape?

Can child soldiers escape?

Most freed child soldiers are boys. The majority of the girls escape on their own. “This is because you have to cooperate with the commanders to free the children: UNICEF and other organisations doing this kind of work receive lists with names of soldiers under the age of 18, who needs to be rescued.

What is the problem with child soldiers?

Regardless of how children are recruited and of their roles, child soldiers are victims, whose participation in conflict bears serious implications for their physical and emotional well-being. They are commonly subject to abuse and most of them witness death, killing, and sexual violence.

Are child soldiers drugged?

“Child soldiers are drugged by militia leaders. A programme co-ordinator for an international NGO working in the region – who declined to be named – said that as many as 95 per cent of children used in armed conflicts are introduced to drugs, most commonly marijuana, although khat, a stimulant, is also used.

Why are child soldiers forced to fight?

Some children are forced to take part in atrocities against their own families and neighbors to stigmatize them and ensure that they are unable to return to their communities. Many child soldiers are compelled to follow these orders under threat of severe punishment or death.

How are child soldiers affected mentally?

Among war-affected children, child soldiers are more likely to endure harsher psychological consequences, such as PTSD, major depression, hostility, sadness, self-confidence and inability to cope with daily life.

What weapons do child soldiers use?

IEDs are the most well documented explosive weapon used by child soldiers. During the Taliban insurgency against the Western presence in Afghanistan, many attacks were carried out by children; those as young as nine have been intercepted on suicide bomb missions.

What happens to the girls in child soldiers?

Some girls are given away to a male soldier or officer, some become sex-slaves for one or two men, and some are free to sexually abuse by anyone who wants a girl for the night. “Some of the girls have given birth to a child or two after being raped. The ones I interviewed loved their children deeply. Their children were extremely important to them.

What to do with an ex child soldier?

A drawing by an ex-child soldier. Reintegrating children back into society is so important. The children are encouraged to participate in psychosocial support, such as group activities with other boys or girls who have been in armed groups.

How old are children when they become soldiers?

Children in conflict are more at risk of harm now than at any time in recorded history. Child soldiers, boys and girls as young as 8 years old, are being recruited and used not only for fighting, but for sexual exploitation and more in conflicts raging across the globe.

What are the punishments for being a child soldier?

Children accused of the slightest infractions may be subject to extreme physical punishments including beating, whipping, caning, and being chained or tied up with rope for days at a time. In some conflicts, commanders supply child soldiers with marijuana and opiates to make them “brave” and lessen their fear of combat.