Child Soldiers In War Essay

In the last 15 years, the use of child soldiers has spread to almost every region of the world and every armed conflict. “Though an exact number is impossible to define, thousands of child soldiers are illegally serving in armed conflict around the world” (¨11 Facts¨). Children forced or volunteered are serving in dangerous combat areas in wars they should not be fighting in and the numbers are growing. The use of child soldiers is a serious issue worldwide, with about 300,000 children as young as nine years old involved in armed conflicts all around the globe today. Child soldiers are a unique group of fighters found all over the world. There is a growing problem in the number of children who are recruited to serve, and from a very young age as well. In order to discuss the problem, first we need a working definition of exactly who a child soldier is. In fact, “child soldiers are any children under the age of 18 who are recruited by a state or non-state armed groups and used as fighters, cooks, suicide bombers, human shields, messengers, spies, or for sexual purposes” (¨11 Facts¨). That means that kids, easier to manipulate, are chosen to …show more content…
“Under its former name Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIS), it was formed in April 2013, growing out of al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI). It has since been disavowed by al-Qaeda, but has become one of the main jihadist groups fighting government forces in Syria and Iraq” (¨Syria Iraq¨). They base their reasons for war on the Koran and a jihad- holy war. Their beliefs are focused on people not worshiping the religion the right way or in most cases ¨their¨ way. Jihadi, or jihadist, refers to a person who believes that an Islamic state governing the entire community of Muslims must be created, and that this necessity justifies violent conflict with those who stand in its way