The Pros And Cons Of Child Soldiers

Around the world, more than 200,000 children ages 18 and below are used in combat, according to Jeffrey Gettlemen’s article Armed & Underage. Child soldiers who have been psychologically examined and rehabilitated should be granted amnesty because they are often forced to commit crimes by their commanders. These children are often forced to “kill or be killed.” If a youth tries to leave or fails to follow orders, the soldier may be killed. Child soldiers’ brains are not yet fully developed. Because of this, a child may make a decision that he/she will later regret. Instead of punishment, youths should be granted a rehabilitation program. These soldiers have experienced situations not suitable for children and need treatment. If a child can be safely reintegrated into society, that youth should be granted amnesty because child soldiers are forced to commit awful crimes.
If a child attempts to escape the violence, that youth may be killed. Therefore, child soldiers are terrorized into fighting. Also, child soldiers are given drugs, alcohol, and food, making it even more difficult to leave. In an titled Child Soldiers-Victims or Perpetrators?, the author explains that “...Once they are recruited the children become over reliant on their commanders for shelter, money, water, drugs, and alcohol that they find an extreme difficulty to leave.” Children are sometimes forced to fight, and find it difficult to leave the