Feel It: Child Soldiers
hafielyas@yahoo.com
Child soldiers are children (individuals under the age of 18) who are used for any military purpose. Some are in their late teens, while others may be as young as four. They are not only boys – many are girls.
Some child soldiers are used for fighting – to kill and commit other acts of violence. Others are used as cooks, porters, messengers, informants or spies, or in any other way their commanders want. Child soldiers are also used for sexual purposes.
Whenever stories about armed conflict, terrorism or the possibility of war appear on television or in the news, considering the possible reactions of children and youth is important. Such topics quickly become a focus and concern for children. Addressing children’s reactions is especially important when the issues directly relate to their family life, such as deployment of a parent for military service.
Sudan and the world society celebrated on February 12 the International Day Against the Use of Child Soldiers .It is a day dedicated to stopping the use of children in armed conflict. The day is also known as Red Hand Day.
Imagine that your child is kidnapped and forced to carry gun .A scaring feeling you cant know what is going to happen to your child , is he going to die or come back someday .
Government ,civil society and comunities have work on the physical well-being of the child, and have to make sure that the physical, mental and social aspects of the child are in equilibrium.”
The UN Security Council passed a new resolution to ‘strengthen mechanisms to prevent violations against children’, and the launch of a Global Coalition for Reintegration co-chaired by the UN Office for Children and Armed Conflict and UNICEF, which aims to improve funding support for returning children, could potentially have a positive impact in years ahead.
The hand over of child soldiers to their families after completing the legal procedures is considered one of the important steps towards protecting children. However the rebel group denied that these children were part of its fighters reiterating its commitment to international conventions banning the use of child soldiers.
Sudan has affirmed its commitment to all international and regional conventions and treaties in order to achieve the best interests of the children by promoting and activating national legislation, policies, strategies and programmes that protect children
Unfortunately, Most of the Sudanese families think that the only way their lives will change is if their sons join the war and bring them back money,they are not thinking of death ,their sons will not come back again ,they are not also think of their right to life , education , health .These families do not think that if their child enjoy all his right ,he will grew up and bring them all they need .
We need to activate laws and legislations ,specially Child Act 2010 which is considered one of the ten Acts in Africa , especially in the remote areas, Sudan, not just Khartoum, because some violations are still practicing against children, especially in child marriage, and child recruitment
The family is a very important social structure. All different types of family structures can successfully raise a child.