The Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia, Syria and Yemen currently have the largest number of child soldiers. 3. Children are not only recruited by armed forces and groups as fighters. They are also used as informants, looters, messengers, spies and as domestic or sexual slaves.
The UN has identified 14 countries where children have been widely used as soldiers. These countries are Afghanistan, Colombia, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Iraq, Mali, Myanmar, Nigeria, the Philippines, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen.
According to some estimates, up to 40% of child soldiers are in Africa. Eastern DRC has amongst the highest numbers of child soldiers in Africa and the world. While there is no precise data, thousands of boys and girls have been actively recruited or conscripted, accounting for up to 60% of militia forces.
Reasons for recruitment by armed groups
Journalist Jeffrey Gettleman suggests that the concentration of child soldiers in Africa is due to the shift among armed groups from being ideal-oriented to economically-driven.
In a separate study in Africa, 60 percent were 14 and under. Another study in Uganda found the average age to be 12.9. Indeed, many child soldiers are recruited so young that they do not even know how old they are. As one boy from Sierra Leone, thought to have been 7 or 8 when he was taken, tells, "We just fought.
Half of the 14 countries that recruited children into armed conflict are in Africa. In addition, the continent is home to 40% of the world's child soldier population, estimated to be 250 000, according to the United Nations (UN).
There are indications of under-18s in government armed forces as there is no minimum age for voluntary recruitment in legislation. In practice the Australian Defence Forces recruit at 17 and in exceptional cases 16.
Throughout history, children have been recruited, often by force, and used in military campaigns. Child soldiers may be considered cheaper to recruit and train, more vulnerable to exploitation and abuse, or strategically useful – such as the girls used for the horrific suicide attacks by Boko Haram in Nigeria.
Thought to have the highest number of child soldiers in the world, Burma (Myanmar) is notorious for the forced recruitment and implementation of soldiers under 18.
Although some child recruitment continues in the country, an estimated 30,000 child soldiers have been released or demobilized since 2003.
The use of child soldiers is far more widespread than the scant attention it typically receives. Twenty-three percent of the armed organizations in the world (84 out of 366 total) use children age 15 and under in combat roles. Eighteen percent of the total (64 of 366) use children 12 and under.
At what age can you join the military? Recruits must be 18 (or 17 with parental consent). The maximum age to join most services is 35. However, the Air Force allows entry up to 39 years of age, but the Navy only 34.
You can join the ADF at 17, but start your application earlier if you wish. There are no gender restrictions in the Navy, Army or Air Force.
There are an estimated 250,000 child soldiers in the world today in at least 20 countries. About 40% of child soldiers are girls, who are often used as sex slaves and taken as “wives” by male fighters.
The most violations in 2020 were committed in Somalia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Afghanistan, Syria and Yemen. It verified that 8,521 children were used as soldiers last year, while another 2,674 children were killed and 5,748 injured in various conflicts.
Are child soldiers effective? Yes. Trusting, vulnerable, and often intimidated, children can easily be manipulated, experts say. In combat, children can be daring and tenacious, particularly when under the influence of drugs—a common practice—or when compelled by political or religious zeal.
These could include household poverty, unemployment, hunger, tribalism, the need to seek refuge, mistreatment at home by the police or other armed groups, or the desire to seek vengeance. Pull factors are rewards or incentives that children know they'll receive by joining an armed group.
Child soldiers should not be held responsible for their crimes because they suffer from lifelong trauma. For example, when a child soldier grows up, they still have memories of what happened when they were kids, like how brutal it was when they killed someone. That can affect their life if they don't get help.
On 28 June 1915, young James Martin sailed from Melbourne aboard the troopship Berrima - bound, ultimately, for Gallipoli. He was just fourteen years old. "Soldier Boy" is Jim's extraordinary true story, the story of a young and enthusiastic school boy who became Australia's youngest known Anzac.
In today's Australian Defence Forces women work in over 200 roles, and receive the same training, salaries and opportunities as men. Women have served in the Australian armed forces since 1899 but until the Second World War were restricted to the Australian Army Nursing Service.
The Australian Defence Force Academy develops and educates the future leaders of the Navy, Army and Air Force. The program combines military and leadership training with a recognised world class degree from the University of New South Wales.
In which countries are child soldiers used? Evidence suggests that child soldiers are active in at least 14 countries: Afghanistan, Burma, Central African Republic, Chad, Colombia, DR Congo, India, Iraq, Philippines, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Thailand and Yemen.
Street children, runaway children, as well as children separated from parents, displaced from their homes, and/or living in combat zones are most at risk.
At the time of filming, more than 10 militia groups operated in the region. All were reportedly using child soldiers. Over 35% of these children were recruited voluntarily, many motivated by a sense of patriotism or poverty.