Children living in conflict prone countries across the world are at high risk of being forced or recruited into armed groups thus denying them a normal life.
Today (February, 12th, 2021) countries across the globe are marking a day aimed at demanding for an end to the recruitment and use of child soldiers.
A global campaign Red Hand Day – was launched to stop the recruitment of children and adolescents under the age of 18 for armed conflicts.
“More children could be pushed into joining armed groups in conflict zones as families face increasing poverty due to the covid-19 pandemic, UN says.
The exact number of child soldiers is unknown, however, in 2019 alone about 7,740 children – some as young as six – were recruited and used as fighters or in other roles by mostly non-state armed groups, according to United Nations data.
According to World Vision International, an estimated 250,000 boys and girls are still affected by recruitment and use.
“In many conflicts, children take a direct part in combat. However, their role is not limited to fighting. Their tasks can vary, from combatants to cooks, spies, messengers, and even sex slaves. Children are not soldiers. Let’s end violation of children’s rights,” Save the children an international organization says.
Sara was a 12-year-old schoolgirl when she was abducted in 2015 by an armed rebel group in South Sudan and taken to remote bushland to loot villages and abduct other children.
” Our first morning in the bush, we were instructed to start looting civilians and attacking villagers within the region. The things we did to them were terrible,” sara told reuters journalist.
She recounts her experience that villagers were tied up and we were looting everything. Those who resisted and did not want to give up their belongings would be killed. “Sometimes, our loot was so heavy that rebels needed help to carry the guns. I was 12 when I held one for the first time.”
“One day, I tried to escape with a group of boys. But we were followed and caught on the way. Rebels tied us up for three days and beat us continuously. Most commanders said we should be killed but luckily our lives were spared thanks to one of them who was willing to forgive us.”