Child soldiers in Liberia

Geneva Conventions of 1949 and additional 1977 protocols The Geneva Conventions of 1949 and the additional 1977 protocols, specifically Protocol II states that children under fifteen should not be conscripted into armies or allowed to take part in armed conflicts. This document and its provisions, which are binding to both state parties and opposition groups, were agreed to by Liberia in March 1954 and June 1988 respectively. United Nations Declaration on the Rights of the Child 1989 The 1989 United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child condemned the recruitment and direct involvement of persons aged fifteen years and younger in armed conflict, per Article 38. This document was ratified and signed by Liberia on July 4, 1993. == Recruitment ==

Methods Both governmental troops and opposition groups were known to forcibly recruit children into their armed forces. There have also been instances of children voluntarily joining troops. Causes of voluntary conscription may include the desire to seek avenge dead loved ones, and a means of seeking protection, as conflict generates loss of parents and family members, often forcing children to find a means to fend for themselves. During these armed conflicts, children were used as armed soldiers, spies and informants, cooks, staff at military checkpoints, cannon fodder, errand runners, and forced sexual companions. Rationale The prevalence of the use of children as soldiers in armed conflicts is dominated by notions that children are more obedient and easier to manipulate, quicker to learn fighting skills, less costly, more expendable, and pose a moral challenge to enemies. == Effects of war on children ==

Psychological Former child soldiers often suffer from high levels of psychosocial trauma, resulting in post-traumatic stress and major depressive disorder, risks of suicide, all of which are higher among children who experienced sexual violence. Child ex-combatants also experience severe post-traumatic stress disorder, the symptoms of which are nightmares and sleeplessness, flashbacks, bedwetting, and depression and anxiety. The stigmatization of former child soldiers has also caused them to suffer from shame and guilt. Physical Child soldiers often faced physical and sexual abuse at the hands of these armed groups. Children were beaten, subjected to a form of torture called "tabay", in which their elbows were tied together behind their back, and forced to consume drugs and alcohol. Social Child soldiering also has implications on the social development of children, as they struggle to develop identities independent of their pasts as combatants and commanders. Former child soldiers also notably struggle to build and foster healthy relationships due to trust issues. Lack of education and the prevalence of illiteracy puts former child soldiers at risk of living in poverty. == Government-sanctioned reintegration programs ==

The first phase of reintegration occurred following the ceasefire in 1997, which concluded the end of the First Liberian Civil War, however reintegration programs were not implemented nationally and there were not enough NGOs present to support these efforts. The NGOs sought to stress the importance of forgiveness and acceptance during these programs, organizing meetings between families and community based organizations to foster open conversations, as well as using radio, media, and flyers to disseminate messages. Economic reintegration Economic reintegration was two fold, and existed in the forms of educational support and skill acquisition. Educational support was primarily a collaboration between NCDDRR, the private sector, and NGOs such as UNICEF, who created the Community Education Investment Program which provided standard elementary education to former child soldiers. The most common form of educational support were maximum three-year education and financial assistance programs. Under these programs, the children were guaranteed one year of educational and financial support, but year two and year three were dependent on the child's academic performance. Financial support existed in the forms of paid tuition, registration fees, books and supplies, uniforms, and subsistence allowances given to children who maintained at least 75% attendance during their time in the program. Skill acquisition training usually lasted between six and nine months, and during this time children were instructed in profession such as baking, carpentry, shoe-making, mechanics, and agriculture, and also given subsistence allowances if they maintained 75% attendance. Additionally, participants reported to have received management and saving skills training, as well as leadership development training. Upon completion of these programs, the children were equipped with start up tools and financial assistance to establish their own small businesses. Psychological rehabilitation and social reintegration Family reunification, educational support, and skill acquisition were all regarded as elements of psychological rehabilitation because they were meant to reinforce positive socialization and constructs of new identities independent of war. NGOs were reported to have provided psychological and social counseling to former child soldiers and ex-combatants. Along with counseling provided by the NCDDRR, NGOs, and faith-based/community organizations, another method of psychological rehabilitation was traditional healing and cleansing ceremonies. These ceremonies centered around the belief that children who underwent them would be forgiven by the gods of the land, and this perceived forgiveness would bolster their acceptance back into their communities and foster a degree of self-forgiveness. == Shortcomings of Reintegration ==

Limited educational support, lack of housing, and the socio-economic reality of Liberia all posed barriers to the success of reintegration programs. The efforts of NGOs operating in Liberia post the civil-war conflict included limited funding, corruption, and staff issues, all of which impacted the effectiveness and implementation of reintegration efforts. == New governmental policies ==

In August 1993, the United Nations Observer Mission in Liberia (UNOMIL), was created to report breaches of humanitarian international law and investigate human rights violations Cotonou Accords The Cotonou Accords, a cease fire agreement signed on July 25, 1993, instigated disarmament and demobilization, as well as mandated the UN and other international organizations to organize and support demobilization and reintegration of ex-combatants. == Fictional Child Soldiers==

A character called Raiden was a child fighting in Liberia due to his ingame background lore in Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty == References ==