KRM 220: Part B
Study Unit 7:
Children in Armed Conflict
What is a child soldier?
The international community defines a child soldier as ‘any person under 18 years of age
who is part of any kind of regular or irregular armed force or armed group in any
capacity, including but not limited to cooks, porters, messengers, and those accompanying
such groups, other than purely as family members’.
● The definition isn’t universally inclusive because:
- Childhood is culturally constructed and varies across societies;
- In many non-Western societies a person may be regarded as an adult once
certain ceremonies and rite of passage have been done;
- Girl child becomes an adult when with her marriage and young man after the
death of his father.
- Many societies regard children as competent ‘young adult’
- Military participation is conceptualised as part of becoming an adult and
under-18year olds are encouraged to take part in military activities.
- Implications for disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR)
programmes
Why children become soldiers
1. Forced recruitment
2. Family considerations- push and pull factors
3. Hopes of earning money
4. Power, glamour and excitement
5. Out of disaffection with political, social, economic systems that have failed them
6. Lack of educational opportunities
7. Ideology and political socialisation exert a strong influence over youth’s decision
to join armed forces
Study Unit 7:
Children in Armed Conflict
What is a child soldier?
The international community defines a child soldier as ‘any person under 18 years of age
who is part of any kind of regular or irregular armed force or armed group in any
capacity, including but not limited to cooks, porters, messengers, and those accompanying
such groups, other than purely as family members’.
● The definition isn’t universally inclusive because:
- Childhood is culturally constructed and varies across societies;
- In many non-Western societies a person may be regarded as an adult once
certain ceremonies and rite of passage have been done;
- Girl child becomes an adult when with her marriage and young man after the
death of his father.
- Many societies regard children as competent ‘young adult’
- Military participation is conceptualised as part of becoming an adult and
under-18year olds are encouraged to take part in military activities.
- Implications for disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR)
programmes
Why children become soldiers
1. Forced recruitment
2. Family considerations- push and pull factors
3. Hopes of earning money
4. Power, glamour and excitement
5. Out of disaffection with political, social, economic systems that have failed them
6. Lack of educational opportunities
7. Ideology and political socialisation exert a strong influence over youth’s decision
to join armed forces
