War is no Child's Play
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Description
Table of Contents
Background
1. Child Soldiers, an Introduction
2. Child Soldiers and Recruitment
3. International Legal Instruments Relevant to Child Soldiers
4. Root Causes of Child Soldiering
5. Prevention
6. Advocacy
7. Negotiating the Release of Child Soldiers
8. Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration
9. Children with Special Needs
10. Reintegration
11. Criminal Justice and Child Soldiers
12. International Initiatives to Stop the Recruitment and Use of Children in Armed Conflicts
13. Conclusion
13.1. Recommendations for Action
Annex 1: World Map of the Use of Child Soldiers
Annex 2: Human Security Network Members
References
Abstract
For the purpose of this paper the term "child soldier" will be used for a personunder the age of 18 who is associated with armed groups or government forces, in any capacity other than a family member. The term "child combatant" will be used for a person under the age of 18 who is or has been actively participating in hostilities in such a manner that he or she adheres to the criteria set in international humanitarian law.
Currently scores of children are recruited and used for military purposes, and perpetrators are not held accountable. There is clearly a need to move from lawmaking, program development, and training, to law enforcement, implementation, monitoring and reporting. In the words of the UN Secretary-General: to move to an "era of application".