Mindful
Diamond Member
- Banned
- #1
Apart from the conflict in Ukraine, war is not a trending issue on social media. Nevertheless, in many parts of the world today, armed conflict and all its brutal sorrows are still with us. Moreover, too many of today’s conflicts involve child soldiers. The United Nations declared February 12 to be International Day Against the Use of Child Soldiers, but it doesn’t seem too concerned about them during the rest of the year. According to Emeline Wuilbercq of the Thomas Reuter’s Foundation, thousands of boys and girls are still used in combat – as fighters and in other roles – in at least 14 countries.
Nonstate and terrorist groups, such as ISIS, Boko Haram, Hamas, Al-Shabaab, and Islamic Jihad are among the worst offenders. They openly recruit children, using them in combat roles and as support staff, and often exploit them sexually.
One might imagine that recruiting child soldiers involves kidnapping them, or taking them by force – and that is often the case during war or under conditions of desperate poverty. But recruitment also takes place brazenly, right out in public.
Nonstate and terrorist groups, such as ISIS, Boko Haram, Hamas, Al-Shabaab, and Islamic Jihad are among the worst offenders. They openly recruit children, using them in combat roles and as support staff, and often exploit them sexually.
One might imagine that recruiting child soldiers involves kidnapping them, or taking them by force – and that is often the case during war or under conditions of desperate poverty. But recruitment also takes place brazenly, right out in public.
