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In the African civil wars of the last twenty years, an increasing number of combatants are as young as 8 or 10, with girl fighters increasingly common. Once inducted into the army it is difficult to reintegrate youth into society. In Sierra Leone, some youngsters were radicalized politically, finding little difference between the merits of democracy and the evils of militarism. Many of these children will be unable to raise viable families or lead viable societies.
Human Rights Watch advocates a minimum age of eighteen for involvement in armed conflict of any kind. It seeks to have governments immediately release children to their families, or if they cannot be found, to appropriate alternative care that takes into account the needs of young people.
Unless the international system promptly addresses the scourge of the so-called "children soldiers," many African societies will find that a substantial number of its future citizens will be unable to raise viable families. The thousands of young people who increasingly are the major participants in most African civil strife are caught up in conflicts stemming from the untidy decolonization of the continent. The small group of westernized African elites who pressured their European masters for independence failed to realize that their centuries-long exploited societies did not have the cultural, economical, political and social infrastructures to stand alone. Conflict and competition for power and resources among the small elite led to coups by a dissatisfied military. and attempts at secessions by ethnic enclaves determined to control their own resources.
It is important to note that not only Africa, but many contemporary societies are increasingly using children (usually youngsters under 18 years old) in warfare. During the last ten years, at least 200,000 young people have been involved in wars in different parts of the world. These areas include Afghanistan, Angola, Burma, Iraq, Lebanon, Liberia, Mali, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan and the Former Yugoslavia. And while it is mostly boys who fight as child soldiers, in some parts of the world, girls are recruited too. Carol Bellamy, Executive Director of UNICEF, an international advocacy organization for children's rights, has repeatedly called on all warring sides to put an end to the use of children as combatants and to incorporate provisions for...