Perspectives
Gather and present information representing different perspectives.
Global:
Child soldiers are spread throughout the world. Currently, there are over 400,000 child soldiers in over 30 countries ranging from Columbia, Peru and Mexico to Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Afghanistan across 4 continents ranging from the jungles of Africa to the islands of Asia. The dark black areas in the map to the left indicate the areas where child soldiers are currently present in.
Child soldiers are spread throughout the world. Currently, there are over 400,000 child soldiers in over 30 countries ranging from Columbia, Peru and Mexico to Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Afghanistan across 4 continents ranging from the jungles of Africa to the islands of Asia. The dark black areas in the map to the left indicate the areas where child soldiers are currently present in.
Local:
Child Soldiers are not present, as far as I know, in Oman, however, across the Middle East and in particular Yemen the use of child soldiers is evident. According to the UN Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict Radhika Coomaraswamy there are “large numbers” of teenage boys are being recruited in tribal Yemeni fighting and estimated that as many as 500-600 children are either killed or wounded in tribal fighting in Yemen every year. It is often common to see boys as young as 13 or 14 carrying Kalashnikovs as they ride with members of their tribes. People in Yemen believe that: if you are old enough to carry the `jambiya’ [a curved dagger traditionally worn in the belt of Yemeni men] then you are old enough to fight with your tribe. This is of course quite a sick saying; however, it goes to show how perspectives on certain topics change in different countries. Furthermore, during the Iran-Iraq War of the 1980’s, Iranian children who were used as soldiers would be sent out ahead in waves over minefields. Also, during Palestine’s fight with Israel, children would often be used as soldiers from both sides.
Child Soldiers are not present, as far as I know, in Oman, however, across the Middle East and in particular Yemen the use of child soldiers is evident. According to the UN Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict Radhika Coomaraswamy there are “large numbers” of teenage boys are being recruited in tribal Yemeni fighting and estimated that as many as 500-600 children are either killed or wounded in tribal fighting in Yemen every year. It is often common to see boys as young as 13 or 14 carrying Kalashnikovs as they ride with members of their tribes. People in Yemen believe that: if you are old enough to carry the `jambiya’ [a curved dagger traditionally worn in the belt of Yemeni men] then you are old enough to fight with your tribe. This is of course quite a sick saying; however, it goes to show how perspectives on certain topics change in different countries. Furthermore, during the Iran-Iraq War of the 1980’s, Iranian children who were used as soldiers would be sent out ahead in waves over minefields. Also, during Palestine’s fight with Israel, children would often be used as soldiers from both sides.
Personal:
As far as I’m concerned the use of child soldiers is preposterous. Children are forced into fighting through false promises and drugs and that is inhumane. Child soldiers are no different than normal children, except they have been transformed into vicious criminals. They need help and they need it soon. It’s time we started acting out as one person can make a difference. I can’t imagine the horrors these children have to live through and nor do I want to; no child, no human, should be forced into such hell. A perfect example of this is Kimmie Weeks. As a child he lived through the First Liberian Civil War and later went onto found an organization which aims at fighting for the rights of children in Liberia.
As far as I’m concerned the use of child soldiers is preposterous. Children are forced into fighting through false promises and drugs and that is inhumane. Child soldiers are no different than normal children, except they have been transformed into vicious criminals. They need help and they need it soon. It’s time we started acting out as one person can make a difference. I can’t imagine the horrors these children have to live through and nor do I want to; no child, no human, should be forced into such hell. A perfect example of this is Kimmie Weeks. As a child he lived through the First Liberian Civil War and later went onto found an organization which aims at fighting for the rights of children in Liberia.