Table of Contents
Foreword 11
Introduction 14
Chapter 1 The Global Problem of Child Soldiers
1 Child Soldiers Are Found Throughout the World Mirjana Rakela 19
Around the world child soldiers are manipulated by armed groups. It is estimated that there are three hundred thousand child soldiers; most are between the ages of fourteen and eighteen, although many are as young as nine.
2 In Uganda, the Child Soldier Situation Has Reached Crisis Status Namrita Talwar 27
Approximately thirty thousand children have been abducted by the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) in Uganda to aid in the eighteen-year-old rebellion against the government. Discontinuing the horrible practice is a considerable challenge.
3 In Mozambique, Children Are Exploited as the Perfect Weapon Jeffrey Gettleman 33
Although child soldiers are not unique to Africa, Africa's child soldiers face an unprecedented number of movements that exploit them for their innocence.
4 Colombian Peace Is Challenged by an Abundance of Child Soldiers Charles Geisler Niousha Roshani 39
In Colombia the growing number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) contributes to the growing number of child soldiers.
5 The United States Treats Captured Child Soldiers as if They Are Criminals Vincent J. Curtis 48
According to the United Nations, the United States must treat child soldiers as if they are victims, not criminals. The United States holds a child soldier captured in Afghanistan at Guantánamo Bay.
6 Young Girls Are Soldiers, Too Susan McKay 54
Although their experiences may be similar, girl soldiers suffer differently than boy soldiers. Unlike boys, girls are regularly sexually exploited.
Periodical Bibliography 61
Chapter 2 The Causes and Effects of Children in Combat
1 Threats and Promises Entice Children to War P.W. Singer|63
Children living in war zones ate enticed into war by threats and promises of food, shelter, and group acceptance. Even those who "volunteer" are coerced to join by their desperate needs.
2 Democratic Republic of the Congo's Forgotten Children of Conflict Anushka Asthana 74
Two years after fighting for a rebel army group in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, former child soldiers want to return home. But their families and communities say they do not want them back.
3 Modern Child Soldiers Have Unique Health Concerns J. Pearn 83
Child soldiers suffer from unique health hazards. These include death, violence-related injuries, and serious mental health illnesses.
4 Former Child Soldiers Benefit from Indigenous Cultural Practices of Healing Zulfiya Tursunova 96
In war-ravaged countries that use child soldiers, Western approaches to reintegration dominate. But indigenous healing rituals must be recognized as valid as well.
5 Colombia's Child Soldiers Join Rebels to Escape Poverty Helen Murphy 106
In Colombia poverty drives countless children to join the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), even though the only escape is through death.
6 In Iraq, Child Soldiers Want to Be Martyrs Toby Harnden 113
In Iraq children who fight think American soldiers are weak and lacking in faith. These children want to live victoriously or meet a glorious death.
Periodical Bibliography 118
Chapter 3 Efforts to End the Use of Children as Soldiers
1 International Efforts to Combat Child Soldiers Are Not Enough: UN General Assembly, Social, Humanitarian, and Cultural Affairs Committee 120
Despite international efforts to eliminate the use of children as soldiers, children continue to be victimized by conflict. This contributes to the overall state of violence and poverty these children endure.
2 Africa Must Stop Recruiting Children to War Ernest Harsch 131
At the Free Children from War conference in Paris, French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy warned that the use of child soldiers is a threat to Africa and to the international community. Former child soldier Ish-mael Beah, speaking at the conference, affirmed.
3 British Relief Organization Offers Aid to Children Affected by War in Sierra Leone Lindsay Clydesdale 136
In Sierra Leone an eleven-year war left fifty thousand dead, one hundred thousand mutilated, and countless child soldiers psychologically damaged. A British charity organization, Comic Relief, offers help.
4 In Mozambique, Save the Children Helps Child Soldiers Heal Wray Herbert 142
The international aid organization Save the Children helped former child soldiers in a Mozambique orphanage. Other local factors contributed to their well-being, also.
5 Despite International Efforts, Child Soldiers Continue to Be Used in Battle: Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers 155
International efforts to end the use of child soldiers have made some progress, but have not done nearly enough. And even in the United Kingdom and the United States, peacetime armies recruit children under the age of eighteen.
Periodical Bibliography 162
Chapter 4 Life After Combat
1 Former Cambodian Child Soldier Finds Solace in Writing Susan Mansfield 164
Loung Ung's recovery from the horrors of being a child' soldier did not begin once she moved to America; recovery began once she started to write.
2 Former Ugandan Child Soldier Helps Others Experience Childhood Edd McCracken 171
China Keitetsi's lost childhood and life with a gun made her a fighter. Having escaped Uganda and the National Resistance Army, she now fights to save other child soldiers.
3 Former Child Soldier from Democratic Republic of the Congo Now Works as a Carpenter Bent Jorgen Perlmutt 177
After serving as a spy for a year and seeing atrocities done to his friends and village, Maisha escaped from the Mayi-Mayi militia that he had joined at age fifteen. He went through a UNICEF reintegration program and eventually learned the carpentry trade.
4 Former Child Soldier from Sierra Leone Is Now Author and Child Rights Advocate Naveed Malik Ishmael Beah 181
Ishmael Beah's experience as a child soldier is well-known from his memoir A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier. Now living in New York, Beah works for Human Rights Watch.
Periodical Bibliography 189
For Further Discussion 190
Organizations to Contact 192
Bibliography of Books 197
Index 200
