How long have child soldiers been used in Africa?
The concentrated use of child soldiers seems to have began in Mozambique in the 1980s, but now has been reported in nearly a dozen nations featuring an estimated 120,000 children. They are forcibly taken, or volunteer when no other option exists.
How many child soldiers are there in Africa in 2020?
8,521 children
A recent UN report verified that 8,521 children were used as soldiers in 2020, while another 2,674 children were killed and 5,748 injured in various conflicts. According to some estimates, up to 40% of child soldiers are in Africa.
How did child soldiers begin?
The first modern use of child soldiers in the region was actually during the Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s. Iranian law, based on the Koranic sharia, had forbid the recruitment of children under 16 into the armed forces.
Why do child soldiers fight?
In many cases, children choose to join as a result of economic or social pressures. Others join armed forces to fight for a cause that they or their family support, often with little clear understanding of the implications of their decision.
What was the history of child soldiers in Africa?
Recent coverage of the armed conflicts across Africa has raised awareness regarding the use of child soldiers. Let’s explore the history of child soldiers and their place in modern Africa. In the early 1800s, Shaka kaSenzangakhona, or ”Shaka Zulu,” ruled the Zulu kingdom in southern Africa by military conquest.
How old do children have to be to be a soldier?
Children should have a right to a childhood, but as it turns out child labor wasn’t the worst of it. In the world today, children under the age of 18 are still being used as soldiers in violent, armed conflicts.
When did the UN study on child soldiers?
1984 – UNICEF conducted studies on child soldiers in Uganda and South America. They were trying to find out how war affects children and what those who have experienced it have gone through. 1985 – In UN, a seminar reaches a conclusion that child soldiers are a form of exploitative labor.
Where did the use of children as soldiers report take place?
Where responses were received, these have been reflected in the report. This report is being presented as a background document to the African Conference on the Use of Children as Soldiers, which is taking place in Maputo, Mozambique, from 19-22 April 1999.