Are child soldiers ethical?

Because child soldiers pose a threat in exactly the same way that adult combatants do, they have combatant status and are therefore legitimate targets of attack according to contemporary just war theory. Whether they are morally responsible for the threat they pose is irrelevant, as is the fact that they are children.

What are some reasons that children become soldiers in war?

Children become part of an armed force or group for various reasons. Some are abducted, threatened, coerced or manipulated by armed actors. Others are driven by poverty, compelled to generate income for their families. Still others associate themselves for survival or to protect their communities.

Are child soldiers innocent?

Children are not usually considered to be morally responsible actors—especially if they are kidnapped and forcibly indoctrinated. Such child soldiers are practically pure examples of innocent attackers, with all of the attendant difficulties for justifying violence against them.

Why child soldiers should not be given amnesty?

Child soldiers do not deserve amnesty because they were conscious they were doing harm to others. “Children should be held accountable for their crimes during conflict, because they knew they were killing people and did not stop” (Burg).

How do child soldiers affect professional soldiers?

Child soldiers pose unique challenges to professional armies. They are lethal combatants, but they are also victims, often forced to fight. For professional soldiers, hesitation out of sympathy may prove fatal. Furthermore, encounters with child soldiers can greatly demoralize professional fighters.

What is the legal definition of a child soldier?

The United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) defines child soldiers as “any child—boy or girl—under eighteen years of age, who is part of any kind of regular or irregular armed force or armed group in any capacity.”. This age limit is relatively new, established in 2002 by the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

When did the US stop the use of child soldiers?

According to the 2004 Global Report of the Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers, between 2001 and 2004, hostilities involving children were widespread. Some of the most egregious use of child soldiers took place in:

Are children fighting on the modern battlefield?

Child combatants have been found on battlefields throughout history. Perhaps the most notable example is the Hitler Jugend (Hitler Youth) in the closing days of World War II. What is new is the extent to which children can be found on the modern battlefield.