Who are child soldiers?

Child soldiers are children under the age of 18 that are a member of or attached to government and non-government armed forces or any armed political group.

What do they do?

• Fighting• Laying explosives and

mines• Scouting• Spying• Portering

• Acting as decoys, couriers or guards

• Training• Logistics and support

functions• Cooking and

domestic labour

Child soldiers perform a range of duties including:

How old are child soldiers?

Most child soldiers are between the ages of 14 and 18. Although there have been cases of soldiers being as young as 9 years old.

How did they become soldiers?

VOLUNTEERING

Some child soldiershave volunteered toenlist as a means of

survivalin war torn regions or to

escape poverty.

BY FORCE:Others have been

abductedor forced to join after

seeing family memberstortured or killed by

government forces or armed

groups.

What gender are child soldiers?

Child Soldiers are both boys and girls.

What countries have child soldiers?

Activity• On the map you have been given label the

countries with child soldiers

“The first time I went into battle I was afraid. But after two or three days they forced us to start using cocaine, and then I lost my fear. When I was taking drugs, I never

felt bad on the front. Human blood was the first thing I would have every morning. It was my coffee in the morning… every morning.”

Ibrahim, 16

“They beat all the people there, old and young, they killed them all, nearly 10 people…like dogs they killed them…I

didn’t kill anyone, but I saw them killing…the children who were with them killed

too…with weapons… they made us drink the blood of people, we took the blood from the dead into the bowl and they

made us drink…then when they killed the people they made us eat their liver, their heart, which they took out an sliced and fried…And they made us little ones eat.”

Peruvian woman, recruited

by the Shining Path at age 11

Susan, 16, Uganda

One boy tried to escape, but he was caught. They made him eat a mouthful of red pepper, and five

people were beating him. His hands were tied, and then they made us, the other new captives, kill him with a stick. I felt sick. I knew this boy from before.

We were from the same village. I refused to kill him, and they told me they would shoot me. They pointed a gun at me, so I had to do it. The boy was asking

me, “Why are you doing this?” I said I had no choice. After we killed him, they made us smear blood on

our arms. I felt dizzy. They said we had to do this so we would not fear death, and so we would not try to

escape.”

Why is being a child soldier a violation of a Childs

rights?

• Children have the right to life and to be with their family and be nurtured and respected.

• Child Soldiers do not have these rights

Facts about Child Soldiers

Today there are 300 000

Child Soldiers

Today there are 300 000

Child Soldiers

Child Soldiers are often given drugs

to cope withthe horrors of war

They are often forcedto kill their ownfamily members

Orphans and refugees often see

this as their only means of

survival

They are used to clear landmines

and as human shields

They use AK47’s and M16’s

and grenadesbecause theyare easy to

use