Children not Soldiers!

CHILDREN IN ARMED CONFLICT: DIAGNOSIS, PROGNOSIS AND INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

-OLUSOLA ALERU.



The subject matter of Children in Armed Conflict also popularly known as Child Soldiers is as age-long as time itself. History records the constant and various use(s) of children during periods of wars and hostilities, most notable internationally being the World Wars.

The Neo and Post World War evidenced mass dementation in our social stability especially as regards children who were forcefully and largely conscripted into armed forces internationally.

Glancing our minds back to the various world wars and civil hostilities, many children were subjected to the violent and obnoxious whims of leaders with obviously questionable stable minds. Many of them were made to fight at the front lines, subjected to a hazardous lifestyle consisting of forcefully killing, raping and several other acts of inhumane brutality towards others. They were largely underfed whilst strong liquor and smoking of hard substances became their staple meals. These children were wholly robbed and denied of the sanctity and innocence that comes with childhood. The females were used as young as twelve-thirteen years as sex slaves. I vividly recall the true life story of a mother during a period of civil hostility in Africa who was viciously raped by 8 men and was subjected to watch her girl child less than thirteen years of age, go through this same torture of being molested by 8 insatiable savages.

These Children who in the first instance were inhumanely made into savages and plunged into a life of gloom, the only life they know really, are now being turned against and stigmatized by the same society that made them what they are. This in itself is hostility against nature and nature sure has a way of fighting for itself. The question is, who can stand the wrath of nature when it comes?

This quare has in a lot of ways led to International disarray with many countries countering themselves even on the most mundane of issues.

As such, the issue of Children in armed conflict and the society's approach to them is indeed a great threat to Global Economic development. More so, the future of International development, in terms of trade, treaty, tourism and in fact all aspects of humanity is under serious threat as the supposed holders of the fort have been handed down a warped system where aggrieved children born into unlikely circumstances can no longer trust their neighbouring countries with anything and if this Trust which is the fulcrum of any dealing Internationally is already breaking within itself, we can only hope that Things do not fall apart, as the center of trust is fast crumbling and not holding together.

Queen Mathilde of Belgium on this notably remarked at a conference on February 10, 2017, that there is an urgent need to provide a stable and secure environment for our children and for those already affected, patient rehabilitation as “Peace, Justice, Strong Institutions, Social Cohesion and Investment Partnerships are all equally essential for the protection of vulnerable people”.

The crux of the matter is this, there is the need for urgent attention to ensuring that countries all over avoid civil conflicts on the one hand and foster peace on the other. Also, Sound laws and legal institutions should be created to serve as a fortification against the use of children or other vulnerable people should there be civil hostility or armed conflict. This will help in the security and stability of the children in the society against the pre and post effect of hostilities.

With regards to the Child soldiers, formidable institutions should be properly established and run by individual countries and even by partnerships internationally. And the personnel involved should be well trained professionals who will patiently guide these children through appropriate rehabilitation and therapy. Also, vocations should be taught to them, so they can be stable and balance by the time they are released back into the society. Finally, the Employment sectors should have flexible rules as to the recruitment of these ones, because rigid rules can result to unconcious stigmatization of the rehabilitated cbildren which if not properly addressed may defeat the purpose of the rehabilitation in the first instance.

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