This is according to a United Nations (UN) report.
Today marks the International Day Against the use of child soldiers, drawing global attention to the alarming issue of children being forcibly recruited into armed conflict.
The UN reports that tens of thousands of children are being used as fighters, cooks, porters, spies, and in some cases, as sexual slaves or human shields.
Zenaida Machado, Senior Researcher at Human Rights Watch, highlighted the disturbing reality that children, particularly girls, are abducted and forced into supporting roles such as cooking, cleaning, or being used as sexual slaves. Meanwhile, boys are often used as combatants or forced to loot villages for insurgent groups.
“The recruitment of children is a tragic reality, not just in Mozambique, but globally, in conflict zones such as Colombia and the Democratic Republic of Congo,” said Machado. “In Cabo Delgado, the local insurgent group has frequently kidnapped boys and girls, forcing them into terrifying and violent roles. This includes some boys, as young as 10, learning to handle weapons and kill.”
The methods of recruitment vary, with young boys often kidnapped while older ones may be lured by promises of money or the promise of supporting their families. In some cases, boys follow older siblings into insurgent groups, while others are indoctrinated by religious leaders who support the jihadist ideology prevalent in the region.
Despite ongoing international efforts to bring justice to perpetrators, the recovery and rehabilitation of child soldiers remains challenging. The psychological and social impact on these children is profound, with many facing rejection and stigma from their communities. Girls, many of whom return from captivity pregnant or with young children, struggle with acceptance and reintegration.
Machado calls on the international community to pressure the Mozambican government to ensure accountability for the recruitment of child soldiers, and to invest in social and economic programmes for their rehabilitation. “It is crucial that these children are given the opportunity to return to normal life, with access to education, psychological care, and social reintegration,” she urged.
--ChannelAfrica--
