Little souls at both ends of the gun

ABSTRACT

Introduction

It is shocking how the children who were earlier regarded as the innocent civilians are present on
both the ends of the gun. The trend of recruiting the children forcefully as the child soldiers is
against the principal of International Humanitarian Law. This phenomenon dates back from
Hitler Youth, continuing to this year. Due to engagement such violent grounds the child soldiers
often become the witnesses of dreadful acts including rape, killing and oppression. For these
little souls every day is a living nightmare. Several attempts have been made by the international
community to bring this practice to an end.

Purpose

This essay aims to examine the recruitment of children as soldiers in armed conflict, its causes,
methods, consequences and an analysis of the existing international legal standards, their
applicability and enforcements behind the same. Also, to throw light on the methods of
elimination and prevention of such child recruitment in armed conflicts.

Methodology

This study is based on analysis of past events and practices, various acts and rules as well non
-empirical sources like public documents and research papers.

Findings

As per the Child Soldiers International Annual Report 2017-18, around 240 million children live
in countries with ongoing conflict, 46 State Militaries all over the world still continue to recruit
children below 18 years of age, the UN Secretary-General has named 56 armed groups and seven
state forces as guilty of child recruitment in 2017 and 203 reports states children being used as
‘suicide bombers’ by Boko Haram in Cameroon and Nigeria in 2017.
Conclusion

The research paper indicates the need for implementation, reporting, and monitoring methods of
existing laws protecting child soldiers. These laws need to be reinforced and fully implemented