Children in armed conflict Study Unit 7
International community defines child soldier
as “any person under the 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, & those
accompany such groups, other than purely as
family members’
Childhood is culturally
constructed & varies across
societies
Age threshold
& defining the
concept child Many non-Western societies
soldiers a person may be regarded
as an adult once certain
ceremonies & rite of passage
have been done
G child becomes an adult
when w/ her marriage &
young ♂ after death of his
father.
Problem w/ defining child
soldier: Many societies regard
children as competent
‘young adult’
Military participation is
conceptualised as part of
becoming an adult & under-
18year olds are encouraged
to take part in military
activities.
Implications for
disarmament, demobilization
& reintegration (DDR)
programmes
, Ideology & political Forced recruitment
socialisation exert
Family considerations
strong influence over
push & pull factors
youth’s decision to join
armed forces
Why children
become
soldiers
Hopes of earning
Lack of educational money
opportunities
Out of disaffection w/ a Power, glamour &
political, social, excitement
economic systems that
have failed them
International community defines child soldier
as “any person under the 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, & those
accompany such groups, other than purely as
family members’
Childhood is culturally
constructed & varies across
societies
Age threshold
& defining the
concept child Many non-Western societies
soldiers a person may be regarded
as an adult once certain
ceremonies & rite of passage
have been done
G child becomes an adult
when w/ her marriage &
young ♂ after death of his
father.
Problem w/ defining child
soldier: Many societies regard
children as competent
‘young adult’
Military participation is
conceptualised as part of
becoming an adult & under-
18year olds are encouraged
to take part in military
activities.
Implications for
disarmament, demobilization
& reintegration (DDR)
programmes
, Ideology & political Forced recruitment
socialisation exert
Family considerations
strong influence over
push & pull factors
youth’s decision to join
armed forces
Why children
become
soldiers
Hopes of earning
Lack of educational money
opportunities
Out of disaffection w/ a Power, glamour &
political, social, excitement
economic systems that
have failed them
