Blog Topic:
Somalia, a lawless land, that is no longer recognized as a country and has not signed the Convention on the Rights of the Child, has begun to recruit children into their army to fight as soldiers. Please voice why children should not be used to fight wars and why this is against their basic human rights.
Albert Brunn, Age 14
I feel that Somalia child soldiers aren’t needed. How would adults feel if they had to spend their childhood in the army? Children are our future. When kids are forced into military service, their talent is wasted. They could become global leaders, artists, writers, architects or numerous other things in Somalia. However, they are forced to be juvenile soldiers. Someone needs to do something about this. It is useless to send people in to rescue them because once one child is rescued another becomes a soldier. What we as American citizens can do is send some of our soldiers as a trade for child soldiers. Then, when we have enough American soldiers in place, they can take over since Somalia isn’t recognized as a nation.
Zuliana Burnett, Age 15
Children should not be used to fight in the wars because they are children and should be having fun and enjoying their childhood. This is against human rights because young children shouldn’t be in wars. They could get hurt and they are putting their life in jeopardy
Latoya Massie, Age 16
Children shouldn’t be fighting or generally living in the poor conditions that they are felling in a way uncomfortable and feel that they need to defend themselves every step they make in a day they have to worry about there own lives and don’t care if they die defending their countries I’m not supporting it this is wrong and these kids don’t exactly know what’s right. Also if they haven’t signed the Convention on the Rights of the Child, for there right for children not to fight then its technically not against any law. But it is wrong.
Shaquille Cadougan, Age 16
children should not be used to fight in wars because they are not experienced. its not right to take away a child’s childhood for reasons such as war
Joshua Hall, Age 17
Somalia, a lawless land, that is no longer recognized as a country and has not signed the Convention on the Rights of the Child, has begun to recruit children into their army to fight as soldiers. I believe that this improper issue should be put to rest asap. I don’t believe that children should fight in any army for several reasons. I don’t think children are mature enough to handle the trauma of warfare. Throwing children into the military rapes them of their innocents and the happy childhood they deserve. Although Somalia has not signed the Convention on the Rights of the Child it still does not give them the right to force their children, the next generation, to fight in Somalia’s military and I don’t think the rest of the world (the UN ) should condone this inhumane action.
Dasia Carr, Age 14
By law children do not have autonomy or the right to make decisions on their own for themselves in any known jurisdiction of the world. Meaning children should not be child soldiers unless it’s the decision of their caregiver. Being a child soldier takes away a child’s rights to an education and child hood. And it’s just wrong if you have a child fighting for something that shouldn’t involve them with a gun that’s twice their size.
Vandesha Walker, Age 15
Children should not fight in wars because it is putting the children in danger and they don’t really know what they are doing. Even if you train them they would not be strong enough to really fight. By law you have to be 18 in order to join the army anyway. And if you let them fight now there would not be anybody left to fight because the children might be dead after the war and never grow up to help fight other wars.
Jenee Lawson, Age 16
I am so shocked to here that Somalia is using their kids to fight in the war. Children should not have to suffer, they deserve a good childhood like others. This is against child rights because no child should be allowed to enter war and also the sense of “freedom”, that allows them to have fun. A child shouldn’t be thinking ” Am I going to die today”. Somalia needs to sign the convention for child rights because this isn’t right.
Jordan Ratley, Age 14
Somalia shouldn’t be recruiting children to fight in the army just yet. I think it’s wrong the way how they can even think about doing that. Some children are being taken away from their families. It is in their basic human rights to not do something they don’t want to do. Children are being forced to against trained soldiers who can just kill them whenever. I see that as a human killing a mere child who knows nothing about war. only adults should fight in a war, the appropriate age would have to be 18. I think the children fighting in wars is just plain stupid and it shouldn’t ever in the history of mankind.
Donovan Rogers, Age 15
Dear JFC Followers,
If you didn’t already know, Somalia, a lawless land that is no longer recognized as a country and has not signed the Convention on the Rights of the Child, has begun to recruit children into their army to fight as soldiers. Not only does it make my stomach flip, but it makes me wonder what it would be like if I was forced into that situation. Lacking of education, lacking of a voice and most importantly, lacking of freedom. Like one of the most recent above the influence commercials, these children are put on strings and every step of their lives are controlled by their government. Sounds like they are violating the basic human rights with every life loss. These kids are set up as pawns on a chess board. Setting them up basically for a war they can’t win. Well, I am here for them and I will be their voice. Someone needs to stop the tragedies before they spread like a wildfire and wipe out their entire population!
Yours truly,
Donovan Rogers
Jasmine Figueroa, Age 16
Children should not be used to fight as soldiers in the army. Because it’s against the law for any child in any country to fight at the army or as soldiers. They need to live their life as a child and happy. It is very dangerous for children to fight and to be dying for parents in Somalia that let their children fight must not care for their kids or care what they do. And that is very sad because the parents is making their kids risk their life. It should not even suppose to be like that because the kids are the future.
To read about the first mission trip to South Africa in 2008, please go to: http://angelrockproject.com/arp/projects/journey_for_change.asp
Journey for Change: Empowering Youth Through Global Service uplifts the lives of inner-city youth through global travel, volunteerism and advocacy work. More information on the program can be found at www.angelrockproject.com.
