Kids in combat

SECOND EDIT

A United Nations report on children in armed conflict provides shocking insights into the violence that children suffer in war zones. Children are being recruited as fighters. They are even being deployed as suicide bombers. The report identifies 56 parties, both governments and rebel groups, that recruit children to engage in combat. There are an estimated 200,000 child fighters in the world. Among the countries where children are being used as fighters — mostly by non-state actors — are Afghanistan, Burundi, Chad, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Myanmar, Nepal, the Philippines, Somalia, Sri Lanka and Uganda. The report draws attention to the sexual exploitation and abuse of children by armed groups. Children figure in large numbers among the injured, dead and displaced in war. Schools and playgrounds have been targets of attack.

While the UN report is disturbing, its findings indicate that it is not impossible to address the problem. The Ugandan government, for instance, worked with the UN to remove children from its armed forces. Closer home, the Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal in Sri Lanka is making some positive progress in halting the practice in the island nation which was once notorious for lifting children off the roads to use them as fighters.

Governments need to lead the way in the fight against abuse of children in combat situations. Few countries in the world can claim to have clean records on the issue. Aerial bombing of Gaza by Israel, of Tamil areas by Sri Lanka and of Afghanistan by the US have left dozens of children dead. Armed forces set up bunkers near schools making children vulnerable to attacks and soldiers are known to use children as informers.

Governments should clean up their act if the UNs campaign to stop the recruitment and abuse of children in conflict zones be effective. Some have suggested tighter sanctions on countries like Myanmar where child fighters are recruited by the government. But sanctions will not bring about change. Isolating the junta will provide it with more space to persist with this practice. It is only by engaging with governments and rebels, and adopting a carrot and stick approach that they can be weaned away from exploiting and abusing children.