The U.S. needs to ignore adults who behave worse than children. We also need to realize that many nations do still consider childhood to end much earlier than we do today. In the 1800’s and early 1900’s, in the U.S., it wasn’t uncommon for a 16 year old “man” to already have children and be out on his own.
Real “child labor” is not a good thing, but a lot of OUR buying policies encourages it. That also indirectly applies to “child warriors”.
This cartoon seems a pretty generic statement on child armies in Africa, they were/are unfortunately widespread in various conflicts - usually, although not exclusively, by the rebel forces - throughout the continent; from Mozambique, Angola, Ivory Coast, Central African Republic, the D.R.C, Sierra Leone, Uganda, Sudan, Somalia, Chad and Liberia to probably only name the most known.
And unfortunately, child soldiers are not limited to the African continent.
There is a more recent convention which binds signatories to ensure that military personnel under the age of 18 are not involved in armed conflict. The U.K. for example, does recruit 16 & 17 year olds(as do most Western countries), but doesn’t deploy them into conflicts.
A fine line. They are still considered child soldiers.
This convention also attempts to address rebel groups from forcibly conscripting children. Not sure how rebels groups ratify these. :-|
The min. age was also increased from 15 to 18. This was a mere 10 years or so ago.
By the way, the official definition of a child soldier is not limited to a child carrying arms, it encompasses those carrying equipment, cooking and girls taken for sexual roles.
I have heard and watched harrowing documentaries of child soldiers from Angola, Liberia & Uganda.
I think the most internationally known personal account is by Ishmael Beah who wrote A Long Way Gone to describe his experiences in Sierra Leone’s child armies.
So I am curious, what prompted the cartoon?
Magnaut said, about 2 hours ago
“baby terrorists incoming”
person918, Magnaut has consistently shown his racist slant on this forum, it isn’t anything new and there is no doubt s/he is a racist.
Today’s comment, however, in light of the subject matter, takes his/her racism to new lows.
comYics over 14 years ago
Child labor should be regulated. Age depends though.
Charles Brobst Premium Member over 14 years ago
Africa can never enter the modern world until they start treating their children as children.
Dtroutma over 14 years ago
The U.S. needs to ignore adults who behave worse than children. We also need to realize that many nations do still consider childhood to end much earlier than we do today. In the 1800’s and early 1900’s, in the U.S., it wasn’t uncommon for a 16 year old “man” to already have children and be out on his own.
Real “child labor” is not a good thing, but a lot of OUR buying policies encourages it. That also indirectly applies to “child warriors”.
TerriAKF over 14 years ago
Thingsinthebasement ~~
Thank you for the article link.
Your link provided access to many articles that were good to read; several speak of a fragile 2 year peace that has existed in Uganda.
Thank you, again, for the link.
OmqR-IV.0 over 14 years ago
This cartoon seems a pretty generic statement on child armies in Africa, they were/are unfortunately widespread in various conflicts - usually, although not exclusively, by the rebel forces - throughout the continent; from Mozambique, Angola, Ivory Coast, Central African Republic, the D.R.C, Sierra Leone, Uganda, Sudan, Somalia, Chad and Liberia to probably only name the most known. And unfortunately, child soldiers are not limited to the African continent.
There is a more recent convention which binds signatories to ensure that military personnel under the age of 18 are not involved in armed conflict. The U.K. for example, does recruit 16 & 17 year olds(as do most Western countries), but doesn’t deploy them into conflicts. A fine line. They are still considered child soldiers. This convention also attempts to address rebel groups from forcibly conscripting children. Not sure how rebels groups ratify these. :-| The min. age was also increased from 15 to 18. This was a mere 10 years or so ago. By the way, the official definition of a child soldier is not limited to a child carrying arms, it encompasses those carrying equipment, cooking and girls taken for sexual roles.
I have heard and watched harrowing documentaries of child soldiers from Angola, Liberia & Uganda. I think the most internationally known personal account is by Ishmael Beah who wrote A Long Way Gone to describe his experiences in Sierra Leone’s child armies. So I am curious, what prompted the cartoon?
Magnaut over 14 years ago
baby terrorists incoming
person918 over 14 years ago
yeah, they aren’t white so they must be terrorists
OmqR-IV.0 over 14 years ago
Magnaut said, about 2 hours ago “baby terrorists incoming”
person918, Magnaut has consistently shown his racist slant on this forum, it isn’t anything new and there is no doubt s/he is a racist. Today’s comment, however, in light of the subject matter, takes his/her racism to new lows.