The abuse of children as soldiers

Where does it occur? | Who are the most vulnerable? |
What are the driving factors? | What is the impact on these children? | What is World Vision doing? | What can the U.S. do? | What can you do?

According to UNICEF, more than a quarter of a million children — boys and girls younger than 18 — are involved in armed conflicts worldwide (1); some of these child soldiers are as young as 7.

In the past decade, more than 2 million children have been killed in conflict situations. An estimated 6 million children have been seriously injured or permanently disabled (2).

Children conscripted into military service are forced to become:

• Sex slaves (especially girls)
• Spies
• Front-line combatants
• Suicide bombers
• Mine sweepers

Where does it occur?

In Africa, up to 100,000 children, some as young as 9, were estimated to be involved in armed conflict in mid-2004 (3). Children are also used as soldiers in several Asian countries and parts of Latin America, Europe, and the Middle East. For instance, in 2004, paramilitary and rebel groups in Colombia used an estimated 14,000 girls and boys as child soldiers (4).

Nine countries are reportedly implicated in child soldier use. ©June 2001/Alison Preston/World Vision

Who are the most vulnerable? Children most likely to be forced into military service include those who are: Separated from their parent or caregiver Living alone without a supportive adult Living on the streets From minority groups Who are isolated or have limited social skills Living in or near conflict zones

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What are the driving factors?

The driving factors for forced child soldier conscription include:

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

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What is the impact on these children?

Children affected by war experience traumatic events, such as:

• Violent death of a parent or close relative
• Separation from family
• Witnessing of loved ones being killed or tortured
• Forced participation of violent acts

Experiences of this magnitude can lead to:

• General poor health (malnutrition and infectious diseases, including HIV)
• Serious war injuries
• Physical abuse or deprivation
• Drug addiction
• Sexual abuse and exploitation
• Serious psychological and social problems
• Unwanted pregnancy (particularly dangerous for girls who are often malnourished, physically immature, and living in unsanitary conditions)
• Death

In addition, girls and boys associated with armed groups and fighting forces often face:

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

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What is World Vision doing?

World Vision strives to address not only the immediate needs but also the long-term needs of all children affected by war, which includes prevention, demobilization, and reintegration of child soldiers. Specific interventions include:

• Assessing the physical and emotional condition of former child soldiers, and providing adequate medical attention and psychosocial support to them
• Providing Child-Friendly Spaces where children can meet with other children to experience their grief and loss together
• Coordinating with other agencies for family tracing and reunification
• Raising awareness in communities about the need to protect children from exploitation
• Sensitizing communities for children reintegration, and follow-up on children who have been reintegrated
• Providing educational and skills training opportunities
• Addressing the specific needs of girls who have been affected by armed conflict (i.e., sexual abuse and the consequences including pregnancy, and sexually transmitted diseases)

World Vision believes that the protection of all children from armed conflict is essential and addresses this concern through:

• Humanitarian assistance to children and their families during and after conflict
• Child-focused community development
• Peacebuilding activities for children and adults
• Advocacy to prevent the enticement and abduction of children by armed groups

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What can the U.S. do?

World Vision strongly believes that U.S. tax dollars should not be used to support the exploitation of children as soldiers. Moreover, U.S. weapons should not end up in the hands of children.

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

Afghanistan Chad Democratic Republic of Congo India

Sri Lanka Sudan Rwanda

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.

Introduced by Sens. Richard Durbin, D-Ill., and Sam Brownback, R-Kan., the Child Soldier Prevention Act curtails U.S. military assistance to governments that fail to take steps to demobilize and stop recruiting children into the armed forces or government-supported militias. Countries that take steps to demobilize child soldiers are eligible for certain forms of assistance for up to five years to help professionalize their forces and ensure U.S. taxpayer dollars are not used to finance the exploitation of children in armed conflict.

Because concerned citizens like you spoke out, the Child Soldier Prevention Act was passed in the House and the Senate on Dec. 10, 2008. Thank you for your partnership as we promoted the passage of this landmark legislation!

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Learn more

• Read more about the Child Soldier Prevention Act.
• Read the testimony of World Vision’s director of public policy and advocacy before the Senate Judiciary Committee Subcommittee on Human Rights and the Law.

What you can do

• Make a monthly financial pledge to help provide for the needs of children affected by war.
• Pray for children around the world who are deeply harmed by conflict. Pray for those trying to help these children and pray for a transformation of those who are forcing children into becoming child soldiers.

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Sources

1. Children Associated with Armed Groups (PDF), UNICEF, May 2006
2. Children in Conflict and Emergencies, UNICEF,
3. Too Young to Kill. Singer, Peter W. The Brookings Institute. January 2005
4. State of the World Children (PDF), UNICEF, 2005

Updated June 2009