Child Soldiers

A child soldier is defined as a person under the age of 18 either forcibly or willingly participating in armed conflicts. Some children are abducted and forced to join military groups, while others volunteer in order to have a sense of stability and protection in a war-torn region. While many are used in combat roles, others occupy support positions such as porters, messengers, or in the case of girls, sex slaves. Regardless of their role in these military groups, children often witness and are forced to do horrible things to survive. Accounts from former child soldiers describe a brutal kill or be killed mentality.

According to War Child UK there is an estimated 250,000 child soldiers worldwide. These children are invariably  located in unstable regions. Amnesty International recently reported that child soldiers are involved in the conflict in the Central African Republic (For more information on this conflict see my last post).

The issue of child soldiers is not an easy one to solve. Many organizations including the United Nations negotiate their release from military groups, but this is not a sustainable solution. More children will take the places of those freed as long as there is conflict within the region in question. Other organizations like War Child and the International Rescue Committee rehabilitate and provide support for former child soldiers. Their work is invaluable. They give these children a chance to have a better life. The problem, however, persists. I believe that the issue of child soldiers can only truly be solved with peace and stability. These things, however, are slow to come. Until they do, we must do what we can to help because no child deserves to suffer or participate in the horrors of war.

For more information visit: http://childrenandarmedconflict.un.org/effects-of-conflict/six-grave-violations/child-soldiers/

To help visit: http://www.warchild.org/

Conflict in the Central African Republic

In early September a group of armed Christians attacked an Islamic neighborhood, burning homes and killing several people. In retaliation, a coalition of armed Islamic groups called the Seleka attacked a Christian community. The conflict has continued to escalate. Many civilians have been displaced within the country or have been forced to take refuge in neighboring nations.

For more information read this article: http://www.amnesty.org/en/news/new-satellite-images-reveal-shocking-aftermath-abuses-central-african-republic-2013-11-08

Syrian Refugee Crisis

In 2011 protests against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime were put down violently. Soon afterwards the country erupted into civil war. The violence created by fighting between the government and the Free Syrian Army has forced millions of people to seek refuge in neighboring countries like Turkey, Lebanon, Egypt, Jordan, and Iraq. The influx of refugees, however, has stretched the resources of these countries and prompted them to start turning people away. This has left many Syrians trapped between the borders of Syria and its neighboring countries. For those that are lucky enough to make it past the border, refugee camp conditions are far from ideal. Often times there is not enough clean water or medical supplies.

For more information about the Syrian Civil War visit http://www.cbc.ca/news2/interactives/syria-dashboard/

For more information about the Syrian Refugee Crisis visit http://www.amnestyusa.org/news/press-releases/syrians-fleeing-violence-are-turned-back-at-jordanian-border

Saudi Arabia Women Driving Movement

In Saudi Arabia women are not allowed to drive. This infringes on their human rights by violating the right to equality and freedom of movement. Religious doctrines in the country are interpreted to prevent women from driving but there is no official law enforcing the ban. An online campaign was started to protest the ban on women driving. The campaign asked women to get behind the wheel. As part of the protest several women filmed themselves driving and uploaded the videos to Youtube. The Saudi Arabian Interior Ministry warned citizens earlier this week that anyone protesting would be punished.

For more information read this article from CNN: http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/26/world/meast/saudi-arabia-women-drivers/