The exploitation of children as soldiers

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Press contacts: Amy Parodi | 253.709.3190 (c) Cynthia Colin | 202.436.1266 (c) Issues expert Joseph Mettimano Vice president of advocacy

Press releases 12/23/2008 President signs law to keep tax dollars from funding child soldiers 12/11/2008 New law prevents U.S. tax dollars from funding use of child soldiers abroad 11/21/2008 While "Jack Bauer" saves child soldiers, U.S. tax dollars continue ...

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World Vision's child soldiers PSA

Where it occurs The most vulnerable children Driving factors Traumatic experiences Physical, psychosocial problems Long-term effects

Around the world, an estimated 250,000 children—some as young as 7—are involved in armed conflicts. Children are exploited in state-run armies, paramilitaries, and rebel groups.

Coerced, enticed or abducted, these children serve as combatants, porters, spies, human mine detectors and sex slaves; their health and lives are endangered and their childhoods are sacrificed. In recent decades, experts estimate that more than 2 million children have been killed in armed conflicts; an estimated 6 million have been seriously injured or permanently disabled.

Resource: Child soldier congresssional testimony

Where it occurs

In Africa, an estimated 100,000 children were involved in armed conflicts in 2004. Children also serve as soldiers in parts of Asia, Europe, the Middle East and Latin America, including an estimated 14,000 children fighting with illegal militias in Colombia.

The U.S. government provides military assistance to six of eight governments implicated in child soldier usage:

• Sri Lanka
• Sudan
• Uganda
• Afghanistan
• Chad
• Democratic Republic of Congo

U.S. military assistance to these countries ranges from small amounts of funding for military training to hundreds of millions in weapons, training, and military financing.

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Children most vulnerable to conscription into military service include those who:

• Live in or near conflict zones
• Live alone or separated from their parent or caregiver
• Live on the streets
• Are from minority groups
• Are isolated or have limited social skills

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The following factors drive continued child soldier conscription:

• Abduction and enticement by armed groups
• Government complicity
• Abundance of small arms and light weapons
• Absence of work and education opportunities

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Children affected by war can experience the following and other traumatic events:

• Witnessing violent death or torture of a parent or close relative
• Separation from family
• Forced participation in violent acts

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Traumatic war-related experiences can lead to the following physical and psychosocial problems:

• General poor health (malnutrition and infectious diseases, including HIV)
• Physical abuse or deprivation
• Drug addiction
• Sexual abuse, exploitation and unwanted pregnancy
• Serious psychological and social problems
• Serious war injuries or death

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Psychological research shows that children associated with armed groups often face the following:

• Uncertain futures and a loss of hope
• Rejection by families and communities
• Loss of identity outside the armed group
• Loss of childhood