GMAMUN – research UNICEF – Central African Republic – the recruitment of child soldiers into armed forces with special emphasis on Afghanistan and war-torn countries. background on the agenda : The use of child soldiers in armed conflicts is a grave concern worldwide, with tens of thousands of children being kidnapped, enlisted, and forced to fight in wars, particularly in countries like Afghanistan, The Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia, Syria, and Yemen. Despite international efforts and protocols such as the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child and United Nations Security Council Resolution 1379, which aim to protect the rights of children affected by armed conflict, the number of child soldiers has doubled since 2012. Organizations like UNICEF work towards demobilization, reintegration, and support for child soldiers. While progress has been made, it is crucial for the international community to continue taking action to end the recruitment and use of child soldiers and uphold the rights of all children. Tens of thousands of children are still being kidnapped, enlisted, and forced to fight in wars worldwide, according to the United Nations. The number of children used in armed conflict around the world has more than doubled since 2012, with a 159% rise and almost 30,000 recruitment cases, as reported by UN annual reports on Children and Armed Conflict. The Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict, adopted in 2000, raised the minimum age for recruitment and participation in armed conflict to 18 and prohibited the use of children in hostilities. In 2002, the United Nations Security Council passed Resolution 1379, recognizing the plight of children affected by armed conflict and urging parties to protect their rights. The resolution also established a monitoring and reporting mechanism to document violations against children in armed conflict, including the recruitment and use of child soldiers. In 2018, the government of the Central African Republic signed an action plan with the United Nations to end the recruitment and use of child soldiers by its armed forces. In 2020, the government of South Sudan also signed an action plan to end the recruitment and use of child soldiers. Areas of Concern : Child soldiers continue to be used in armed conflicts in various countries around the world, despite global efforts to end this practice. According to the United Nations, in 2019 alone, over 7,740 children, some as young as six years old, were recruited and used as soldiers in at least 14 countries. Most of these children are recruited by non-state armed groups. Three countries where child soldier recruitment is prevalent are the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Somalia, and South Sudan. In the DRC, armed conflict is a daily reality, and children are recruited and forced to train as child soldiers. Children in the DRC face severe human rights violations, including poverty, sexual violence, disease, and lack of access to food and clean water. They are routinely exposed to violence from armed groups, and in some cases, abducted and forced into military forces. The UNICEF estimates that between 5,000 and 10,000 children in the Kasaï region alone have been associated with militias. The use of child soldiers is also widespread in other provinces, such as Tanganyika and South-Kivu, where violence has escalated in recent months. Children who have been recruited by militias in the DRC have witnessed killings and have been forced to kill, stealing their childhood away from them. Somalia has the largest number of children who have died during war in the world. The ongoing civil war in Somalia has led to the recruitment of children into armed forces. In 2017, 931 children were killed in war, and 2,127 children were used in conflict in Somalia. Between 2010 and 2016, 6,163 children were verified to be recruited in Somalia. Children in war-torn Somalia face horrific abuses, including forced recruitment as soldiers, forced marriage, rape, and attacks on schools by conflicting parties. Children in Somalia, defined as anyone under 18 years old, are disproportionately affected by the conflict, facing indiscriminate artillery and small arms fire, and suffering from the ongoing humanitarian crisis and famine declared by the UN in the south-central region of Somalia. In South Sudan, child recruitment by the military and opposing armed groups remains a grave concern. In the late 1980s, the southern Sudanese rebel leader John Garang issued an order to gather children from villages in southern Sudan and send them to camps in Ethiopia for military training, forming the Red Army within the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA). The use of child soldiers in South Sudan reflects the lack of accountability and impunity prevailing in the country's civil war. Human Rights Watch has called for sanctions on individual violators of human rights in South Sudan to curb the recruitment and use of child soldiers. The use of child soldiers is a grave violation of human rights and international humanitarian law. The recruitment and use of children in armed conflicts have severe physical, psychological, and social impacts on the children involved. Children who are recruited as soldiers often face direct combat, exposure to violence, and are at risk of injury or death. They are also vulnerable to sexual exploitation, abuse, and forced labor. The trauma experienced by child soldiers can have long-lasting effects on their mental and physical well-being. Efforts have been made globally to end the use of child soldiers. The United Nations has adopted resolutions and conventions, such as the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Optional Protocol on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict, to protect the rights of children and prevent their recruitment and use as soldiers. However, the persistent use of child soldiers in countries like the DRC, Somalia, and South Sudan highlights the need for increased action and accountability at the national and international levels. To address the issue of child soldiers, it is crucial to address the root causes of armed conflicts, such as poverty, lack of access to education, political instability, and discrimination, which make children vulnerable to recruitment by armed groups. Poverty and lack of basic services often push children and their families into desperate situations where they may see joining an armed group as a means of survival. Therefore, addressing the underlying socio-economic and political factors that contribute to armed conflicts is essential in preventing the recruitment of child soldiers. Furthermore, efforts should focus on strengthening child protection mechanisms, promoting access to education, and providing psychosocial support to children who have been affected by armed conflicts. This includes ensuring that children have access to safe spaces, healthcare, and education, as well as providing support for their physical and psychological recovery and social reintegration. Rehabilitation and reintegration programs should be designed to meet the specific needs of former child soldiers and prioritize their well-being and rights. International cooperation and accountability are also crucial in addressing the issue of child soldiers. States must be held accountable for their actions or failure to protect children from recruitment and use in armed conflicts. Perpetrators of child recruitment and use should be held accountable, and efforts should be made to ensure that they are brought to justice, regardless of their rank or status. Sanctions, targeted measures, and other diplomatic means can be used to pressure states and armed groups to end the use of child soldiers. In conclusion, the use of child soldiers in armed conflicts is a grave violation of human rights and a pressing global concern. Despite efforts by the international community to end this practice, children continue to be recruited and used as soldiers in various countries, including the DRC, Somalia, and South Sudan. Addressing the root causes of armed conflicts, strengthening child protection mechanisms, providing access to education and psychosocial support, and ensuring accountability are critical in preventing and addressing the recruitment and use of child soldiers. It is the responsibility of states, armed groups, and the international community as a whole to prioritize the protection and well-being of children and work towards ending this egregious violation of their rights. Only through concerted efforts and collective action can we create a world where children are not robbed of their childhood and forced to bear the burden of armed conflicts. Possible Solutions : The use of child soldiers in armed conflicts is a grave violation of human rights that requires urgent attention and action. In order to address this issue, several possible solutions have been proposed. One key solution is the reintegration and demobilization of child soldiers. Civil society actors, with support from international actors, play a vital role in advocating for the demobilization and reintegration of child soldiers. This includes incorporating child soldiers into peace agreements and processes. Prevention efforts should also go beyond enforcement of international law and include education, youth activities, food security, and ensuring the security of refugee camps to prevent the recruitment of child soldiers. It is crucial to raise awareness of child rights in humanitarian advocacy to prevent recruitment. Another important solution is preventing re-recruitment of child soldiers. Lessons from Angola show that strategies such as accompaniment and family reunification can effectively prevent re-recruitment. This requires investment in practical measures such as education and non-formal youth activities, as well as community-level advocacy. Programs that combine education and income-generating activities should also be improved to address the needs of former child soldiers. Demobilization of child soldiers must be conducted with proper protection and support. Establishing special and protected reception centers for child soldiers during demobilization is critical to prevent manipulation by military authorities. Demobilization may be involuntary for child soldiers, and they may fear the transition from military to civilian life. Therefore, gaining the support of military and civilian officials, families, and communities during this transition is crucial. Former child soldiers themselves can also play a valuable role in counseling their peers. It is important to note that age criteria may not always be relevant to the actual experience of children as soldiers. Many child soldiers may not know their age, and local conceptions of children and youths may vary. Therefore, adopting terms such as "underage soldier" or "youth combatant" may be more appropriate to avoid emotional debates over the term "child soldier." It is also important to recognize that child soldiers may be excluded from peace accords if the term "soldier" only refers to combatants, leaving out children and youths serving in support functions, including girls. In conclusion, addressing the issue of child soldiers requires a multi-faceted approach. Reintegration and demobilization efforts, prevention of re-recruitment, and proper protection and support during demobilization are crucial steps. Education, youth activities, community-level advocacy, and addressing the root causes of armed conflicts are also important in preventing the recruitment and use of child soldiers. It is essential to prioritize the protection and well-being of children, ensure accountability, and involve civil society and international actors in efforts to end the use of child soldiers. By working together, we can create a world where children are not robbed of their childhood and forced to bear the burden of armed conflicts.
