What human rights are being violated by child soldiers?
“Child victims who have been forced or lured into armed groups suffer a broad range of human rights violations and abuses, including their right to life, right to not be subjected to sexual violence or other forms of torture, right to education and right to freedom of thought conscience and religion,” said Saeed Mokbil …
Why are child soldiers a human rights concern?
Often referred to as “child soldiers,” these boys and girls suffer extensive forms of exploitation and abuse that are not fully captured by that term. Warring parties use children not only as fighters, but as scouts, cooks, porters, guards, messengers and more.
Are child soldiers ethical?
Because child soldiers pose a threat in exactly the same way that adult combatants do, they have combatant status and are therefore legitimate targets of attack according to contemporary just war theory. Whether they are morally responsible for the threat they pose is irrelevant, as is the fact that they are children.
How can we stop child soldiers?
Ensuring respect for the rights of children is a top priority. Providing a secure environment where children have ways of being safe, well fed and properly clothed that do not involve carrying a gun is something to which all of us can and must contribute.
Are child soldiers protected?
Human rights law declares 18 as the minimum legal age for recruitment and use of children in hostilities. Recruiting and using children under the age of 15 as soldiers is prohibited under international humanitarian law – treaty and custom – and is defined as a war crime by the International Criminal Court.
Are child soldiers responsible for their actions?
Children as Victims Their enlistment in armed groups cannot be considered an autonomous choice; and if they are not autonomous, they cannot be held responsible for their actions. In other words: child soldiers ought to be considered as victims rather than perpetrators of crime during armed conflict.
Is Somalia recruiting child soldiers a human rights crisis?
Among Somalia’s numerous human rights crises is the recruitment of child soldiers. Not only is Somalia one of the countries with the most child soldiers, but its living standards are not improving.
How many children are in the Somali Armed Forces?
An estimated 2,000 to 3,000 children, sometimes as young as 9, are currently enlisted in the Somali armed forces. According to Unicef, the situation is currently getting worse because the militia have transformed schools into recruitment centers and forced teachers to turn their students into soldiers.
What is the current state of child rights in Somalia?
Subsequently in 2019, Somalia announced its first ever report on the state of child rights in the nation (Goobjoog News, 2019). Moreover, the Somali Penal Code may soon be changed since the ‘Sexual Offences Bill’ is before parliament, with sexual violence currently only an “offence against modesty and sexual honour” according to Somali law.
Why is child protection so important in Somalia?
Children in Somalia are consistently unable to enjoy fulfilment of their rights due to the severely difficult context in which they live. Children are vulnerable to serious risks which undermine their safeguarding including: forced displacement, access to education, recruitment as child soldiers, sexual abuse, marriage and child labour.