Child soldier photo essay

CHILD SOLDIERING- A WAR CRIME Article 8.2. (xxvi) of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, 2002, declares enlisting children under the age of fifteen years into the national armed forces or using them in hostilities as a war crime.

For years the use of children in both conflicts between states and civil wars has been evident. Children are forced by commanders through false promises, drugs and things which you can’t even imagine, to kill innocent civilians, other children and even their own families.

The problem with prosecution is that it poses far too many problems. For instance, prosecution can be selective and be based upon a lack of evidence. Rehabilitation programs are comprehensive and have proven successful. Take the case of the former Sierra Leone child soldier Ishmael Beah.

A child soldier is defined as: “Any child- boy or girl-under the age of eighteen, who is compulsorily, forcibly or voluntarily recruited or used in hostilities by armed forces, paramilitaries, civil defence units or other armed groups. Child soldiers are used or forced sexual services, as combatants, messenger,...