In 2004, the aclu created a human rights program dedicated to holding the u. Child soldiers are often forced to shoot assault rifles and rocket launchers. Too small to be fighting in anyones war irin, 12 dec 2003 an overview of the problem of child soldiers, why children are recruited, and what the consequences are for them. Children, not soldiers united nations office of the. As we now consider the issue of child soldiers, it is interesting to reflect on how these two issues have come together to highlight some of the violations of human rights that take place and the inability of the international system to prevent these abuses in the case of omar khadr, a 15 year old canadian citizen, captured by the us and held. International humanrights law bans the use of children under age 18 in war. Human rights watch previously documented the recruitment, use and training of child soldiers by the huthis in may 2015. They are recruited into armies for many different reasons and used for many different tasks. During the conflict, child soldiers themselves were subject to numerous. Experiences, implications and strategies for community reintegration, report for the canadian international development agency, 2005. This overview describes some of the major global and regional legal instruments that have contributed to this transformation, as well as specific relevant provisions in broader human rights related instruments and in international agreements on child protection. English other on world and 6 other countries about protection and human rights, children, drought and other. Child soldiers edition volume 4, issue 2 spring 2008 human rights education the human rights education program is designed to introduce international human rights and responsibilities to k12 students. Human rights watch defends the rights of people worldwide.
Global report on child soldiers of the coalition to stop the use of. For use with young people aged 1114 across a range of subject areas. The growth of childrens rights as reflected in international and transnational law has transformed the postwar legal landscape. Use of child soldiers by state armed forces and stateallied. Human rights watch has also accused the indian security forces of using children as spies and messengers, although the indian government denies this allegation. Section ii offers a summary of the united nations system of human rights as it has developed from the founding of the united nations in 1945 to the present. Child soldiers, slavery, and the trafficking of children. Child recruitment and use united nations office of the. Convention on the rights of the child crc, which concerns the prevention of childrens active participation in armed hostilities as soldiers. Amnesty international huma n r i g hts in the cu rric u l um r e sou r c e st u dent wor k sheet child soldiers activity sheet 1 child soldiers child soldiers are young people under 18, who fight in wars. The underage recruitment of child soldiers is widespread. Yet, all too often in wartime, children are helpless. The convention on the rights of the child the crc is a human rights treaty. Deprivation of childhood a critical analysis of the international humanitarian law and international human rights standards for the protection of.
The united nations convention on the rights of the child is an important agreement by countries who have promised to protect children s rights the convention explains who children are, all their rights, and the responsibilities of governments. Universal declaration of human rights preamble whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world, whereas disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous. Every child has the right to a normal childhood, and the right to develop his or her human potential. This paper argues that the hundreds of thousands of children under age eighteen participating in armed conflicts around the globe should be treated. It uses the framework of the universal declaration of human rights to help students understand and appreciate common human values, encourages. The use of child soldiers in conflict can have longterm consequences for the children concerned.
The convention on the rights of the child crc is the most comprehensive document on the rights of children. A global approach to human rights protection, enforcement and postconflict reintegration. Join our movement to protect children and make the recruitment and use of child soldiers unthinkable. The coalition to stop the use of child soldiers report in 2008 stated that there was recruitment of children by state backed groups in the region.
While the crc applies to all children through the age of 18, the original article banning child soldiers set the age lower at only 15 years old. Recruitment of use of child soldiers by opposition forces in unity state. There were reports of child soldier use by yemeni armed forces in. Child soldiers were used by multiple fighting factions in liberia beginning in 1989. Children continue to serve on the frontline in numerous conflicts at least ten according to the 2004 global report on child soldiers of the coalition to stop the use of child soldiers. A child soldier is classified as a person enlisted in an army or militia that is under the age of eighteen. More than 200 child soldiers freed in south sudan, unicef. Challenges in establishing the accountability of child. Together, we can make definitive, positive strides in ending this human rights abuse around. Declaration of the rights of the child of 1924 and in the declaration of the rights of the child adopted by the general assembly on 20 november 1959 and recognized in the universal declaration of human rights, in the international covenant on civil and political rights in particular in articles 23 and 24, in. Central african republic 2018 human rights report executive summary the central african republic car is a presidential republic. Child soldiers around the world council on foreign relations. Despite a proliferation of international human rights treaties, labor laws, and humanitarian laws that should provide children with special protection from this heinous form of abuse, the trafficking of children and the use of children as soldiers is increasing. Chapter nine child soldiers the advocates for human rights.
Hesford and others published contingent vulnerabilities. Child soldiers global report 2008 coalition to stop the use of child soldiers most child soldiers are between the ages of and 18, though many groups include children aged 12 and under. Child soldiers as human rights subjects find, read and cite all the research you need on researchgate. The framework for legal protection of child soldiers. This paper begins by examining states obligations regarding child soldiers under international law.
The campaign was designed to generate momentum, political will and international support to turn the page once and for all on the recruitment of children by. It is argued that if this article is to move from ratification to practical implementation there should be consideration of the contexts that influence the. This overview describes some of the major global and regional legal instruments that have contributed to this transformation, as well as specific relevant provisions in broader humanrights related instruments and in international agreements on child protection. Prosecuting child soldiers for human rights violations, 38 geo. Human rights in dakar, re vealed that using children as soldiers is the worst form of child labour that exists because of the mental effects that remain long after the con. Essay about the horror that are child soldiers 1264 words 6 pages. Child soldiers lesson plan template and teaching resources. She spent the summer of 2012 in the hague, netherlands, studying the prosecution of war. Recruitment and use of child soldiers in south sudan. Yet, tens of thousands of children are forced, coerced or born into conflict every day where they end up fighting in conflicts created by adults. In the early 20th century, women in the united states and the uk started petitioning their governments to end child labor.
These boys and girls, some as young as 8 years old, serve in government forces and armed opposition groups. The growth of children s rights as reflected in international and transnational law has transformed the postwar legal landscape. A human rights education resource on child soldiers, based on a talk by a former child soldier, ishmael beah. Therefore, despite startling numbers and prevalence of child soldiers, work is being done that is effective, and the number of child soldiers since the enactment of the paris principles and the optional protocol to the convention on the rights of the child on the involvement of children in armed conflict has steadily been on the decline and the. Section i, on the universality of human rights, discusses the moral foundations of human rights, the challenge of cultural relativism, and the relationship between human rights and duties. Child protection from violence, exploitation and abuse. All the rights are connected, they are all equally important and they cannot be taken away from children.
Some nongovernmental organizations have determined that the issue of child soldiers raises questions of international human rights law, international criminal law, international humanitarian law, and international labor law. Child soldiers and the convention on the rights of the. Among them are the popular defence forces pdf, a paramilitary force. Child soldiers do not place such incarceration high on their list of priorities. International humanrights law bans using kids under 18 in war. Thousands of children are serving as soldiers in armed conflicts around the world. Persons affected by the violent acts of child soldiers need for those harms to be addressed and, in turn, redressed. Since the tragic events of september 11, a core priority of the aclu has been to stem the backlash against human rights in the name of national security. This paper will examine the existing law on child soldiering. In 2014, with unicef, the special representative launched the campaign children, not soldiers to bring about a global consensus that child soldiers should not be used in conflict. Hundreds of thousands of children under the age of eighteen are involved in armed groups in 37% of the worlds countries and territories. Convention on the rights of the child 1989 the convention on the rights of the child crc is the most comprehensive document on the rights of children. Children were also 5 child soldiers global report 2008 summary.