Child soldiers
Child soldiers global report 2008
Understanding the situation of child soldiers around the world
Authors:
Publisher:
Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers, 2008
This report contains detailed information on child soldier recruitment and use in 197 countries. It also, where relevant, provides information regarding disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration programmes as well as justice and accountability measures to address the problem.
Despite the reported successes of the continuous demobilization of child soldiers, this meticulously documented report shows that, in fact, tens of thousands more child soldiers have remained in or been newly recruited and used in armed conflicts – primarily by non-state armed groups, but also by some national armies.
According to the report governments have failed to prevent the use of children by proxy forces and child soldiers who have escaped or been captured have been used as spies or sources of intelligence rather than provided with rehabilitation and reintegration support. The report further states that numerous governments persist in recruiting under-18 year olds into national armies, exposing them to military discipline, hazardous activity, bullying, abuse and possible deployment to war zones.
The report calls for immediate action and reminds the international community to increase all efforts to prevent and eradicate the recruitment and use of children in armed conflict. It underlines that what is ultimately needed is a well-coordinated and multi-faceted action by a wide range of actors, the exertion of pressure where it is needed, and sustained funding for programs to assist returning child soldiers and other war-affected children. Finally, the report states success will depend on addressing root causes and building societies where the rights and dignity of all children are upheld.
