CHILD SOLDIER:
WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THEM?
WHAT SHOULD BE DONE TO HELP THEM?
You and I see them they are hectic and in endless movement all day around at the bush /forest .They week look weary and we rely their face looking full of anguish ,but still holding vivid signs of encourage hope and confidence of survival.,
A child soldier is any person who is under 18 years old and who is part of a regular force or armed group in any capacity ,other than purely as family member .It does not only refer to those carrying arms but include cooks, porters, messengers and those accompanying such groups including girls recruited as concubines forced into “marriage”
Africa had more armed conflict during the 1990 s than any other continent from lager- scale war in Angola, Congo Brazaville,Congo –Kishansha,Ethiopia ,Eritrea ,Rwanda Somalia ,Sudan, and Uganda
Children are vulnerable at all times but particularly in situation of armed conflict both boys and girls are affected ,but girls are vulnerable to sexual exploitation ,Boys are vulnerable to force recruited by armed groups or force
PROBLEMS FACING CHILD SOLDIER
Boys and Girls are often forced to become soldiers or they join one of them fighting function because it is their only means of survival .As child soldier they are often exposed to drug use and participate in or witnessed severe ,human right abuse and violence that will affect them for the rest of lives ,Girls are treated as ”sex slave” or “bush wives” that have to cook ,clean and sexually serve their masters, on whom they are depend for their survival
REMEDIAL MEASURES AND RESPONSIBILITY
When talking of who is responsible are regards the problems facing child soldier
Prevention
Work will undertaken by special human rights unit to make the local authorities and armed factions aware of the rights of a children and establish monitoring and support structures in order to prevent the abuse of the right of children ,or to mitigate it where it has already occurred Eg in the case of child soldier
Advocacy and Education
Work will be undertaken to advocate child protection issues and to educate local authorities fighting faction ,politicians ,peacekeepers and others
A child has the following rights
- To life
- To be with a family and community
- To health
- To develop of a personality
- To be nurtured and protected
The convention on the rights of the child CRC has key principles that should guide all of the actions of adults towards children
Non –discrimination (article2) no discrimination on basics of race ,gender ,colour religion, ethnicity etc
Best interest of the child (article 3) acting in the best interest of the child means doing what is best for the child and not what is best for you
Participation( article 12) states that parties shall assure to the child who is capable of forming his her own view the rights to express those view freely in all matters affecting the child the view of the child given due weight in accordance with the age and maturity of the child for this purpose the child shall in particular be provided the opportunity to be heard in any judicial and administrative proceeding affecting the child.
