What Happens to Former Child Soldiers?

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What Happens to Former Child Soldiers

For the last decade a spotlight has been placed on the issue of child soldiers. However, the spotlight is only so large. The issue of child soldier recovery and its devastating process has been overlooked and this is unacceptable. Many men and women believe that the problem is fixed when the gun is removed from a child’s hands; however it is only the beginning of a long and difficult road though. The world needs to be informed on the second portion of this rehabilitation process; it cannot remain overlooked. For many recovering soldiers this can be a much more difficult process and time than the actual war portion of their lives (“About the Issues”).

So what is a child soldier? The international definition that has become the standard, states that a child soldier is: “any person below 18 years of age who is, or who has been, recruited or used by an armed force or armed group in any capacity, including but not limited to children, boys and girls, used as fighters, cooks, porters, messengers, spies or for sexual purposes” (“About the Issues”). A common misperception is that child soldiers are restricted to children who wield a weapon in battle; this is far from the truth. The definition covers many more aspects of child soldiers; many of the worst scars that combatants suffer from come from off the field struggles. Getting a gun out of a child’s hands is the first priority, but we cannot just leave there and forget such an essential part of the recovery process.

Some of the most pressing issues that many child soldiers suffer from are mental issues. Children often suffer from PTSD and many struggle with anger issues following their release from the army. They are plagued b...

... middle of paper ...

.... The world cannot remain oblivious to the problems being faced by our fellow human beings.

Boe Renslow

Julian

English 12

23 January 2014

Stage Two: What Happens to Former Child Soldiers

For the last decade a spotlight has been placed on the issue of child soldiers. However, the spotlight is only so large. The issue of child soldier recovery and its devastating process has been overlooked and this is unacceptable.

1. History of Child Soldiers

A. Definition of a child soldier

B. Explanation of problems

2. Mental Issues

A. PTSD

B. Anger issues

3. Reintegration into society

A. Jobs

1. Socializing struggles

2. Drug addictions

B. Family and village

4. Rehabilitation camps

A. What they do

B. Why they are only semi-affective

1. Finding the children

2. Documentation problems

5. Solutions

A. Through camps

B. Through education

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