'Child Soldiers Should Be Prosecuted': Article Analysis

The children in the war were in a kill or be killed situation. The children didn’t have a choice except to follow orders from their commanders or they would get killed. They had to fight and kill others to stay alive. A quote from the article “Child Soldiers” (To what extent should child soldiers be held accountable for their crimes?) states, “Furthermore, many children join without carefully thinking through their decision. At the time they might believe that recruiting would lead to a safer life as necessities such as food, water and shelter would be available; actually fighting in war would not cross their mind.” This quote proves that child soldiers are victims because the only reason that some joined was because they had to or else they would die. Also because when they joined they didn’t really know what was going to happen and they didn’t know about the all of the mass killings that would occur. They were just focused on staying alive and getting the basic necessities that they needed like food, water, and shelter. If they wouldn’t have joined then they could have died from hunger or the harsh weather. They chose to defend themselves by joining the

Child soldiers are victims because they were drugged with cocaine and marijuana so then the kids will do what they were told, but i think child soldiers should get amnesty because they had no control of going into war or staying out of war. These kids were drugged and threatened to do all of these things and if the kids didn't do it then they would be shot or most likely killed.

To begin with, child soldiers deserve amnesty because they don’t choose or are manipulated into becoming a child soldier.When children are put into a war most of the time they don’t have a choice or are manipulated into thinking what they are doing is okay.One

According to the article, “Child Soldiers: Victims or Predators”, it states, “More often than not children have no say in whether they enlist or not and once recruited the children become brainwashed through the use of drugs and alcohol. The drugs and alcohol make the children become more compliant enabling them to commit atrocities which they never would have before.” This clearly proves how the drugs they are given, which they don’t even willingly take, have an enormous impact on their minds and stipulates the acts of murder and several other crimes. Also, in the article, “Child Soldiers Should be Prosecuted”, it states, “The recruiters of child soldiers also use drugs and alcohol to make children more compliant and to enable them to commit acts they would not ordinarily commit” This is just another quote stating the same evidence found in the last quote, showing that being drugged isn’t infamous but is known worldwide. Any child or grown adult’s mind is being brainwashed with things they shouldn’t be doing when taking drugs.

One topic that has been debated recently is whether child soldiers from other countries are victims or perpetrators, and whether they should be given amnesty or not. Many believe that child soldiers are the victims, since they have no choice but to join or else they would be killed, and should also be given amnesty since they don’t know what they are doing because they are filled up with drugs. However, those child soldiers should be mentally sane to be given amnesty and earn their citizenship the way immigrants earn their citizenship.

First off, child soldiers are often forced to be recruited. “Often they are abducted at school, on the streets or at home.” ("From Cradle to War." Amnesty International. Amnesty International USA, Web. 3 May 2016.) Almost all child soldiers are forced to do things as a soldier that they wouldn’t actually do, such as hurt or kill others. So although some child soldiers want to hurt or kill, most don’t want to. So obviously, most child soldiers are forced to do bad things that they don’t want to do, and wouldn’t do if they hadn’t become a soldier.

Have you ever wondered how certain people would act in a survival setting? Well in William Golding’s Lord of the Flies that was exactly it. During wartimes a group of boys were stranded on a deserted island and left to attempt civilization. After their civilization fails, they start to turn away from society. Then, later divide into two groups with different leaders, one being the original leader, Ralph, the other to be Jack.

Child soldiers should be granted amnesty, because they were forced into their position. They were kidnapped and forced to be apart of a militia. They did not have a choice

A lot of young soldiers had no choice and were forced into being violent and because of this, child soldiers should be given amnesty. First reason why child soldiers should be granted amnesty because this child soldiers are only forced in the position of being a soldier. Although there are a lot of evidence on why child soldiers should be given amnesty, others argue that they have other choices. But as young kid, it might be too risky for them to make other decisions and not follow the orders. In additional, they are brainwashed and forced to do drugs by their leaders.

Are you aware that right now, at this very moment, there is a group of young boys ages 8-13 who are clenching a gun being ordered to kill against their will? It’s understood that others opinions about the dangers of child soldiers being free are only because they don’t want to risk anything but, isn’t life all about taking risks? You risk your life leaving the house, and breathing. Also, countries should not prosecute child soldiers for the crimes they committed during wartime. There also should not be an international minimum age of criminal responsibility for war crimes and crimes against humanity. Here are three reasons why they should not be prosecuted or held responsible. Also that there should not be an age limit. One. Children are afraid, young, and clueless. Two. Children are 99.99% of the time drugged, forced, and brainwashed. “Children are often brainwashed and drugged before they are forced to fight. Their vulnerability can allow warlords to make them into cold-blooded killers” (O'Neill 1 ). Three. Children are independent, lonesome, and they want/need a family. One that gives them love.

Child Soldiers should be given amnesty because they are brainwashed and manipulated. According to Victims or Perpetrators, “The drugs and alcohol

The kids don’t have a choice to do anything, the “Choices” they do have not been real choices if you think about it. The author of the article “Summative Essay; Child Soldiers Victim or Perpetrators” explains they can’t do anything, they can't leave, they had no idea what they were getting into. “ At the time they might believe that recruiting would lead to a safer life as necessities including food, water and shelter would be available; actually fighting in war would not cross their mind. However, once they are recruited the children become over reliant on their commanders for shelter, money, water, drugs and alcohol that they find an extreme difficulty to leave.” This emphasizes the children were taken advantage and lied to, they were thinking they were going to be safe and have food and shelter but instead they were put in the war and on drugs.

In the article “Child Soldiers: If not Prosecution, Then What?” written in December 2006 through February 2007. The author writes that some children are kidnapped by military officers and then the children are brainwashed into doing very cruel things. The thing is is that they are kidnapped and then brainwashed to do these horrible

More often than not, children have no say in whether they enlist or not and once recruited the children become brainwashed through the use of drugs and alcohol. The drugs and alcohol make the children become more compliant, enabling them to commit atrocities which they never would have before.” This shows that the drugs and alcohol that are being given to the child soldiers are helping the leader brainwash them to make them think that committing horrible crimes is a good thing to do. Since the child soldiers are on drugs and alcohol, they make poor decisions of killing innocent people without even knowing they are doing it. Some may argue that the children can refuse the drugs, but when you are living in a tragic life of your friends and family dying beside you on the battlefield, why would you want to have a conscious mind when you could take a drug to forget all about

Child soldiers don’t know what they are getting themselves into when they are told to kill. They are unsuspecting of the dangers, and traces left on their permanent record. One authority described the children’s mentality:“ ‘Children are often desired as recruits because they can be easily intimidated and indoctrinated. They lack the mental maturity and judgment to express consent or to fully understand the implications of their actions… and are pushed by their adult commanders into perpetrating atrocities,’ the report said” (“Should child soldiers be prosecuted for their crimes?” from irinnews.org).Child soldiers don’t realize that they shouldn’t let adults physically push them around. Child soldiers are told to kill and they do it because they are not only afraid, but because they think if a grown-up tells them to complete a specific task, they have to obey. Also, many of these child soldiers come from places with wrecked schools.The poor environment averts child soldiers from getting the education they need. So, it may be implied that without these schools, without education, a child won’t know what is right and wrong.“Most children have never been in a classroom or played in a park” (“Armed and Underage” by Jeffrey Gettleman).Child soldiers aren’t exposed to learning environments like schools; all they’ve ever known and adapted to, are battlefields. Children, being so young, haven’t developed the