A child soldier is a child under the age of 18 serving for military purposes. They are used for fighters, cooks, suicide bombers, human shields, messengers, spies, or for sexual purposes. There are thousands of child soldiers and they are illegally serving in armed conflict around the world. 
Image by: https://imperialglobalexeter.com/2014/12/10/rethinking-childrens-experiences-of-war-african-child-soldiers-in-the-second-world-war/
How are they talked into it?
Child soldiers are often abducted, or conscripted through coercion or severe threats; or they are born into forces or groups.
How many are there?
Today, there are between 250,000 and 300,000 children fighting in the world. Their recruitment begins from the age of 10. Child soldiers are used as instruments in war machines that execute even parents and friends.
Training:
- Military training is designed to break children down psychologically until they obey commands without question, which can alter their personality in the long term.
- Bullying, physical violence and sexual harassment are common in a military environment.
- In most cases, child recruits are bound by military regulations that would be unlawful in civilian employment, and which can leave them with no right to leave for several years.
More Information:
For more information and ways to help please visit the following sites;
- https://www.dosomething.org/facts/11-facts-about-child-soldiers
- http://www.accord.org.za/conflict-trends/understanding-recruitment-child-soldiers-africa/
- https://www.child-soldiers.org/how-is-recruiting-children-harmful
- https://www.unicef.org/
- https://www.humanium.org/en/child-soldier
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