Are Child Soldiers Subjugated By War?

What if you were stripped of your freedom, your family… your identity. Abducted from their families and forced to kill, child soldiers face many psychological challenges as they seek liberation from their guilt and attempt to regain their identity as innocent children once again. Many of these children bear psychological scars and tackle mental hardships daily, yet their amnesty is still questionable. A majority of these children have had their childhoods purloined at a young age, stripped of any family these children are sent to the front lines and engage in mortal combat. Over time, these children develop a bond with their armed groups and serve them loyalty, coinciding with their morals. Although in some cases they may be perpetrators, child soldiers are victims of war as their values and beliefs are diluted by external sources. Additionally, as a last resort they compassion and safety from armed groups as well as act brashly upon instinct.

When making a choice that could define the distinct difference between life and death, children are put in dire situations that cause their instinct and need for survival to override their values and morals. One child soldier, Ishmael Beah stated in the article “Ex-child-soldier: 'Shooting became just like drinking a glass of water'”, "Somebody being shot in front of you, or you yourself shooting somebody became just like drinking a glass of water. Children who refused to fight, kill or showed any weakness were ruthlessly dealt with.” (Barnett, 2012) This is evident as to how children were forced into situations that they had no control over and were threatened to relinquish their moral values and beliefs. Additionally, Beah also mentioned how emotions weren't allowed. "For example a nine-year-old boy cried because they missed their mother and they were shot." (Barnett, 2012) Both of these examples relate to how child soldiers are not only stripped of their identity, but are forced to remove emotion completely in an attempt to rid them of compassion and empathy. Although some people may disagree, and it is true some children may be participating in conflict voluntarily, but many soldiers have had been purloined of their lives and families and have sought out provisions and shelter in a last resort from armed groups.

As stated previously, child soldiers are often orphans when they are recruited. Higher ranking militants tend to use the act of compassion as a way of motivating soldiers and invigorating their aggression. One of the main driving forces between child soldiers’ cruelty is their feeling of responsibility to act upon a sense of belonging, as well as vengeance and justification through the participation of conflict in armed groups. This is evident as to how children were forced into situations that they had no control over and were threatened to relinquish their moral values and beliefs. The article, “Kony’s child soldiers: ‘When you kill for the first time, you change’” indicates as to how powerless children can be when presented with these circumstances. One former child soldier of the LRA (Lord’s Resistance Army), Norman Okello recalls how he felt very proud when he received a full blessing ceremony after passing his munitions training. “You feel you’re now one of the family of the LRA. You are one of them, you are part of them, all you have is them. You forget about home.” (Storr, 2014) While it is true that some children participate of their own accordance, as many of the children are orphans they seek a father figure and often find empathy from military leaders and commanders.

One reason as to why child soldiers are prime candidates for soldiers is because they are easy to manipulate and intimidate. Additionally, they don’t demand for salaries and are less likely than adults to run during attacks. Other benefits for having children as combatants include children familiarising themselves with violence and often choosing it when they experience fear, anger or frustration. Ishmael Beah recalls this. Children also have a sense of obligation towards their leaders, likely in act of repaying debt or servicing for recognition.

A majority of child soldiers face issues that force them to make decisions they have no control in, although some children join armed groups voluntarily and are dedicated to their cause, most children face difficult decision of choosing life over death in a battle of values and morals. Additionally, militants also expose children to violence at a young age, this forces them to become infatuated with violence and is often the solution to frustration, fear or anger. Militants also act as father figures to compensate for the death of parents, children look up to them and seek compassion from them. Overall, child soldiers should be given amnesty as external sources influence them to act aggressively and force them to override their morals.