Tell Obama: "Stop supporting countries that use child soldiers." For the second year in a row, the administration is ignoring the spirit of the Child Soldier Prevention Act and is giving violating countries a free pass. Urge the Obama administration to not issue waivers to countries that use child soldiers in their national armies. Call the White House today! Learn more about the abuse of children as soldiers Why child soldiers? | Where does it occur? | Who are the most vulnerable? | What are the driving factors? | What can the U.S. do? | Take action | Additional resources Why we advocate Jesus Christ is the model and basis for our advocacy — namely, His identification with the poor, the afflicted, the oppressed, and the marginalized. Read more Back to Top

Why child soldiers?

An estimated 250,000 children are forced to fight in wars around the world — some as young as 9. Children conscripted into military service are used as:

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

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. (1)

Where does it occur?

Child soldiers are used in national armies and in paramilitary and rebel groups all over the world, but predominately in Asia (including the Middle East) and in Africa. In 2008, children were found in 57 non-state groups in 24 countries. (2) In 2011, six countries use children in their national armies — Myanmar, Chad, Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia, South Sudan, and Yemen. (3)

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 on the streets
• From minority groups
• Isolated or have limited social skills
• Living in or near conflict zones

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
• Lack of work and educational opportunities

What can the United States do?

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

• Chad
• Democratic Republic of Congo
• Somalia
• Republic of Southern Sudan
• Yemen

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.

In 2008, Sens. Richard Durbin, D-Ill., and Sam Brownback, R-Kan., introduced the Child Soldier Prevention Act — a bill to curtail 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. Under this bill, countries that take steps to demobilize child soldiers are eligible for certain forms of assistance to help professionalize their forces and ensure that U.S. taxpayer dollars are not used to finance the exploitation of children in armed conflict.

The Child Soldier Prevention Act was signed into law in 2009 because concerned citizens like you spoke out.

However, through a loophole in the law, the current administration has failed to implement the law and is giving violating countries a free pass.

Take action

• Call the White House. Be an advocate for children who are being exploited. Let President Obama know that we will not tolerate our tax dollars going to support armies that use children as weapons of war. Urge him to stop giving military aid to countries that use child soldiers in their national armies.
• 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.
• Make a monthly financial pledge to help provide for the needs of children affected by war.

Learn more

• Read more about the Child Soldier Prevention Act.

Sources

1. Children in Conflict and Emergencies, UNICEF
2. Child Soldiers Global Report 2008, Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers
3. 2011 Trafficking in Persons Report (pdf), United States Department of State