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 Literature / Re: Is The Use Of Child Soldiers, A Good Phenomenon Or Not - Nigerian Online Debate by QueenAmina1(f): 10:50pm On Nov 24, 2012 |
ifyalways: @queenamina, what other(better) options do you think are available for a child that is abandoned or orphaned in the face of war? Don't you think that enlisting is the "best" option for such a child? And enlisting for what I wonder? For revenge at his/her age? Haven't the child been through much sorrow to pile on even more bloodshed? What is there to gain by trying to find a way to break the cycle of war? Is it by flimsy childish endeavours to take back by force what can never be regained? There are institutions, families, and humanitarian groups to cater for defenseless ones. It isn't farfetched to flee and discover new ties, new bonds.... ...Peacefully and without bloodshed. 1 Like |
| Literature / Re: Is The Use Of Child Soldiers, A Good Phenomenon Or Not - Nigerian Online Debate by QueenAmina1(f): 10:05pm On Nov 24, 2012 |
@QueenAmina:It is the vey nature of[i]war[/i]that has child soldiers as [i]by-products [/i]in the first place. Are children who have no proper guidance, are they worthy to hold the fate of their future in their hands by violence? Are they better off than those of peace? If I may add Judge Maclatunji, we are planning for the future and it rests with our youngsters. Remove the cause, and there will definitely be no effect. 2. What are your thoughts on the fact that women and children are usually the greatest victims of war? Don't you feel that those willing should be allowed to defend themselves by bearing arms?There are reports of ex-soldiers who feel pretty foolish after they have 'defended'themselves and would rather die than take up arms again. They are human. They have consciences too like the rest of us who rather go by peace and not war. Like I stated, Judge Maclatunji remove its cause. |
| Literature / Re: Is The Use Of Child Soldiers, A Good Phenomenon Or Not - Nigerian Online Debate by QueenAmina1(f): 8:46pm On Nov 24, 2012 |
Thus, rather than being a natural category, ‘the child’ is a “socially constructed idealization that reflects the values and agendas of particular researchers, cultures, and traditions” at a given point in time (Wessells1998: 640). What do you say about rather unstable and improvished settings? If I may quote your words: that taking up arms can be a sensible choice and an attractive optionThat seems rather partial don't you think? |
| Literature / Re: Is The Use Of Child Soldiers, A Good Phenomenon Or Not - Nigerian Online Debate by QueenAmina1(f): 6:40pm On Nov 24, 2012 |
It is an honour to be present this evening before the Nairaland Forum to argue against the use of Child Soldiers being a good phenomenon. The word “infantry” has taken a whole new meaning when it comes to children. A play on words if you like, but the issue behind the scenes are just as grave. When the term “Child Soldier” springs up, what image comes to mind? A victim of war probably coerced or forced to fight wars trained to slay, maim, violate, interrogate and kill perhaps? Is it an image of a miniature soldier, a boy with a grim determination to follow orders in the field by his superiors, a girl subtly doing likewise with her body infiltrating opposing ranks, a child achieving what an older contemporary in the same line of work does differing in age….In morals? How does this statistic appeal to you? ‘ “The world’s armies include about 200,000 youths, some as young as 12 years of age,” states The New York Times. These findings are contained in a report from a subcommission of the UN Human Rights Commission. Some of the youths have been forcibly conscripted by their governments, while others have been urged by their parents to enlist in order to gain jobs and food, and for the family to receive payment if the child dies in battle. Thus, a number of countries have violated the international law that stipulates 15 years of age as the minimum for recruitment into the armed forces.’- Awake! Choice. Did the child have it? Was it the child’s heartfelt wish to spend childhood on the battle field? A rather disconcerting way of fighting battles, is using a child natural tendency to elders and would follow orders in ways an adult won’t. Using children this way, how does appeal to you personally? Permit me to hit close to home… Will you as a concerned individual, allow your underage ward to be a Child Soldier if you can help it? Would ‘Over my dead body’, perhaps be your reaction or something quite similar? You may or may not be aware of this occurrence, but places where the abominable practice of the use of children are being used; the answer is chilling: Precisely. So, what makes the ugly use of the ‘boy- soldier ’ or ‘girl-warrior’ so appealing? -For one, children are naturally overlooked and are seen as innocent. With naivety comes unquestionable loyalty. They also act like sponges…they absorb. “Kids don’t have a doctrine or ideology. They are merely sucked up by one side or another and put to work.”-Social anthropologist Brian Milne -In past times, it was quite unlikely for a child who lacked experience to face an adult in combat that being painfully obvious. In modern times however, weapons are becoming lightweight. A weapon such as an assault rifle—a Soviet-made AK-47 or an American-made M16 can be easily assembled by a mere child. -They are cheap and expendable. A basic need for children is to be loved and acknowledged. Recruiters prey on that and make the training environment appealing enough to keep them there by instilling in them a sense of duty. And what does this child do? He follows it, even if the order is walking into a minefield. “What is clear, from Iran, when young boys were sent across the minefields is that boys are more malleable, cheaper and can be wound up to pitches of emotional fervor for long periods in the way no adult soldiers can be,” said The Times There have been reports where underage children out of a quest for adventure, are seduced into joining the ranks to protect their family. For others, they were made to sever ties by killing their own relatives. The use of child soldiers should be rooted from its cause and what are steps used to eliminate its practice. It’s a trend rearing its monstrous head in nations where civil unrest abounds and of others whilst in peace-time, continue recruiting underage combatants in proxy conflicts. “In Chad child soldier use by armed forces and non-state armed groups has been extensive. From 2006, large numbers of children were recruited into the Chadian army to fight against armed opposition groups. The latter also recruited girls and boys extensively and used them to fight in hostilities. In addition, during the Chad-Sudan proxy war (2005-2010), the Chadian government supported Sudanese armed groups recruiting children on its territory.”- http://www.child-soldiers.org/country_reader.php?id=2 Nevertheless, why using children? An observation from a military observer states, “Since [children] don’t seem to share the same understanding of death as older soldiers, they are less likely to surrender in hopeless situations.” There have been measures taken by international bodies to resolve such issues of civil unrest and of others, to put pressure on to increase the age of the voluntary recruitment requirement: “The United Kingdom is one of a group of fewer than 20 states which have a minimum voluntary recruitment age of 16 years. As such, it is out of step with the prevailing trend towards a global ban on the recruitment of anyone below 18 years of age. According to British government policy under-18s in the British armed forces are prohibited from participation in armed conflict, but this policy can be overruled if there is a “genuine” military need or if it is otherwise impracticable to withdraw minors before deployment. Its systems for tracking personnel to ensure that under-18s are not deployed has reduced, but not entirely stopped, soldiers from being inadvertently deployed to operation theatres before they turn 18, and the UK has repeatedly exposed children to the risk of participation in hostilities” It is heartening to know that pressure groups as well as public opinion are adding weight to countries embroiled in it. And it seems that results are hopeful. For former child soldiers, there is a light at the end of the tunnel where eventually, conscripting children as an expression of adult violence will be outdated and children being free. Thank you. 2 Likes |
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