Jot down the thoughts that come to mind when you see the following pictures:

Child Soldiers By Mrs. Topliff

What is a Child Soldier According to the Child Soldiers 1379 Report, the CSC defines a child soldier as: “…any person under 18 years of age who is a member of or attached to the armed forces or an armed group, whether or not there is an armed conflict. Child soldiers may perform tasks ranging from direct participation in combat; military activities such as scouting, spying, sabotage, acting as decoys, couriers or guards; training, drill and other preparations; support functions such as portering and domestic tasks; sexual slavery and forced labor.” (p. 7). According to the 1997 Cape Town Principles: ”Child soldier… means any person under 18 years of age who is part of any kind of regular or irregular armed force or armed group in any capacity, including but not limited to cooks, porters, messengers, and those accompanying such groups, other than purely as family members. It includes girls recruited for sexual purposes and forced marriage. It does not, therefore, only refer to a child who is carrying or has carried arms.”

Child Soldiers…. Child soldiers have been used in over 30 countries Child soldiers are under the age of 18 Children are used as soldiers because they are obedient and physically vulnerable Children who are poor, orphaned, or refugees are recruited by force or see armed groups as their best chance for survival Children become soldiers to seek revenge Children fight with weapons such as AK-47s or M-16s Child soldiers are used to clear landmines or make and deploy mines

Child Soldiers…. Child soldiers participate in suicide missions, carry supplies, and act as spies, messengers, cooks, and lookouts Girl soldiers are warriors and sex and domestic slaves Child soldiers have seen atrocities, including rapes, amputations, beheadings, and people being burned alive Child soldiers are often given drugs to make them overcome their fear and reluctance to fight Child soldiers become victims of conflict either by being killed, or by becoming disabled, homeless, or psychologically traumatized Because educations and opportunities to learn civilian job skills are often denied to them, child soldiers find it difficult to re-join peaceful society. Some turn to crime or become involved in other conflicts

Where are child soldiers located…. Please see handout of child_soldiers.pdf

Child Soldiers Testimonials…. Read the testimonials (located on your handouts) child_soldiers.pdf Directions: What story spoke to you or touched you the most? Why? Please explain in a few sentences in your notebook