! CHILD SOLDIERS!
Worldwide, international estimates about 300,000 child soldiers in action. They are often forcibly recruited into armies or rebel official organizations and are forced to fight. Child soldiers in many armed factions integral part of the military infrastructure.
child soldier in Africa photo: tdh
The recruitment of children and their military use is child abuse! In contrast, applies the "International Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers" , in the Terre des hommes is actively involved for years. The "Coalition" has become an international network set up.
An important milestone in the fight against the recruitment of children the Additional Protocol to UN Children's Convention commit in which the signatories not to recruit children and young people under 18. Equally important is the new International Criminal Court in The Hague , because those who recruited children under 15 years of age would be future convicted under the statute of the Court as a war criminal.
Facts
About 300,000 children are used as child soldiers worldwide. They are forced to fight or at least part of the military infrastructure.
Here are some examples of terre des hommes-project countries: Colombia
: 14,000 child soldiers in armed Opposition groups (FARC, ELN and others) and the paramilitary
Burma: 50,000 child soldiers in government forces and armed opposition groups
Angola: 7,000 child soldiers (for some time post-war situation)
India: number of child soldiers is unknown, use in government army and many opposition groups
Afghanistan: the number of child soldiers is unknown, but their use is probable
Philippines: unknown, use at paramilitaries and armed opposition groups
Indonesia: unknown, used as informants for government forces and armed opposition groups
(For details and country studies includes also "Global Report" the "International Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers").
causes and background of forced recruitment
Photo: tdh
Many children grow up in war and crisis zones. Your daily life is shaped by war, violence and destruction. The war aims are determined by adults. Child soldiers are - as all soldiers - the law of command and obedience. For these children, this means that you must obey, without calling to mind the question.
There are few child soldiers, have helped to fight for religious or political conviction. The large mass has other motives: fear of attack the enemy, fear of punishment and abuse by a war party. Another motive is the hope of protection, safety and supply. Not seldom plays a role that you can rob plunder by force of arms. Children also volunteer because they want revenge for the murder of his parents or family members.
for most wars, the longer a war lasts, the more children are being recruited. The more children are recruited, so the younger victims of this practice. It is not uncommon for the "race of the warring parties' at the (forced) recruitment of children. The recruitment of child soldiers is in some conflict and war zones as a tool for the repression of opposition groups and ethnic groups. In this case, children of political opponents and ethnic minorities are recruited by the military. Then they are placed in distant parts of the country without the parents of the whereabouts of their children aware of them. The development of light small arms will allow the warring parties to send young children already in armed conflicts.
The situation of child soldiers
on the child's needs of child soldiers is no consideration. The children are often beaten, abused and forced to commit atrocities. You have to kill other children, for example, if they wanted to flee. This treatment has only one purpose: intimidation, imposition of absolute obedience and apathy towards cruelty. The life of a soldier is hard: you have to carry heavy loads (weapons, wounded, food, household items, tents) over long distances. Food, clean water and other supplies (drugs) are scarce. Children who do not meet these requirements are to be harassed by their superiors or killed.
-girls and boys are part-by adult soldiers sexually abused. This risk results for the affected children, such as unwanted pregnancy in girls. Other hazards are Risk of infection as sexually transmitted diseases and HIV / AIDS.
children are regarded by superiors as "less valuable" soldiers, so they are often used in particularly dangerous areas of the front, such as spies, mine-laying and mine sweepers. Correspondingly high is the risk of being injured or killed.
child soldiers have often not received training or attended a school can therefore read or write. You learn so not even the necessary cultural techniques in order to live peacefully with each other in a civil society.
Former child soldiers in Germany as refugees
International International law is clear: child soldiers are victims of severe war crimes. Nevertheless, represents the Federal Office for the recognition of political refugees of the opinion that it is former child soldiers to deserters without political persecution. Reasons for flight, such as the recruitment of minors or the murder of his parents are not recognized as asylum-relevant. Former child soldiers in the German asylum procedure, therefore, little chance.
The German asylum law is in no way limited to the particular situation of this refugee group: Since these children are usually severely traumatized - added language difficulties - they need help and support. Alone, these refugee children unable to get through an asylum procedure successfully. Terre des hommes requested to include in the asylum process, the situation of children better.
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