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Arguments Against Child Soldiers

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Arguments Against Child Soldiers
Justice systems are struggling to determine whether child soldiers should be treated as victims or predators. Some say if a child soldier is considered too young to fight then, he or she should be too young to be held criminally responsible for serious violations. Child soldiers lack the mental maturity to fully understand the implications of their actions.

Young children play an active part in conflicts around the world. The children face injury and death many are sexually abused. Those who do survive are seriously scarred emotionally from their experience.

Child soldiers shall not be prosecuted because many did not volunteer and many are under pressure. The use of children in war has happened throughout history as drummer boys and messengers. To most armies and militias children are cheap, compliant. Both boys and girls might be active soldiers. The girls are more at risk of rape, sexual harassment and abuse often recruited to be sex slaves.

The …show more content…
Up to 14,000 children are believed to be involved in militias in Colombia. Under aged soldiers is also prevalent in parts of Asia such as Sri Lanka and Cambodia.

15 is the minimum age for recruiting soldiers. So it would be legal for a 15 year old to be fighting in an armed group. However, organizations and campaigners such as the International Committee of the Red Cross are seeking to increase the age to 18. Conscripting and recruiting children under the age of 15 is a war crime. Those accused of using under ages in fighting would be tried. Three militia leaders tried at the special court for Sierra Leone were the first to be convicted for recruiting child soldiers in June of 2007. It's unlikely that any under 18s would be tried before the Court it is required to prosecute people who bear the great responsibility. It is required to consider the child's age and their
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