Child Soldiers In Sierra Leone

Children of War; Child Soldiers in Sierra Leone

“I still dream about the boy from my village who I killed. I see him in my dreams, and he is talking to me, saying I killed him for nothing, and I am crying” (Sierra Leone Rebels Forcefully Recruit Child Soldiers; 1). These are the words of a sixteen year old demobilized child soldier, forced to join an armed rebel group in Sierra Leone. Around the world there are over 250,000 youth being forced to become child soldiers; they are taught to be cruel and they believe what they are taught is right. This injustice is occurring on a large basis, in the African nation of Sierra Leone, where children are recruited incredibly young, lack education, become thieves and indulge in child prostitution.
The two-thousand year old bible is the basis of Christianity and it lays out the vision of a just society that Christians should promote by responding to social injustices. “In Catholic thinking, social justice refers to the commitment by all (governments and citizens) to ensuring that equal access to resources allows everyone to live a happy and fulfilling life” (Social Justice Booklet; 195). This concept is very difficult to achieve on a large scale idea but it is what Christians are attempting to create. Christians are called to be active and aid in making a difference in our faith. As the bible states, The Ten Commandments are to be adhered to. However there are countries that reject these rules, partaking in activities of great disrespect not only to themselves but their culture. Christians across the globe are called upon to act and create the kingdom of God in these communities where solidarity is treasured over materialistic items and
In many third world countries like Sierra Leone, they are seen by government and rebel groups as particularly useful for military purposes. “Child soldiers are 'more obedient, do not question orders and are easier to manipulate than adult soldiers.” (Contact with Child Soldiers; 2). Child soldiers have been recruited into the military at obscene ages. The earliest recorded recruitment age into the Sierra Leone military was seven. Currently, recruitment begins when soldiers are able to carry weapons. which totally goes against international laws stating that children under fifteen must not participate in hostilities and must not be recruited into the armed forces (Protocol I, Art. 77, Sec. 2; Protocol II, Art. 4, Sec. 3c). The Sierra Leonean government and rebel forces alike have rejected to abide by these laws and used child soldiers to promote