Child soldier
A person under 18 recruited or used by an armed force or armed group in any capacity, including combat, support, or sexual exploitation.
Paris Principles: International guidelines for preventing the unlawful recruitment or use of children by armed forces or groups and supporting their release and reintegration. They define a broad understanding of recruitment and guide responses to children’s varied roles.
Geneva Conventions: Four 1949 treaties establishing core rules for protecting people during armed conflict. Their protections for children in war preceded later explicit restrictions on recruitment.
Ishmael Beah: A Sierra Leonean author and human-rights advocate who was recruited as a child soldier during his country’s civil war. His memoir describes recruitment, violence, and rehabilitation from personal experience.
International Criminal Court: A permanent international court that prosecutes individuals for genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and aggression. It can prosecute the war crime of recruiting or using children under 15 in hostilities.
Post-traumatic stress disorder: A mental health condition that can develop after exposure to traumatic events and involve intrusive memories, avoidance, and heightened arousal. Exposure to violence and coercion can contribute to lasting trauma symptoms.
Abduction: The taking of a person without consent, often by force or deception. Armed groups may abduct children to recruit them or compel their service.
Additional Protocol I: A 1977 treaty supplementing the Geneva Conventions with rules for international armed conflicts. It prohibits recruiting or allowing children under 15 to take part in hostilities.
Emmanuel Jal: A South Sudanese musician and peace advocate who was recruited into armed forces as a child. His public work connects a personal history of recruitment with advocacy for children affected by war.
Lubanga trial: The International Criminal Court’s first trial, which convicted Congolese militia leader Thomas Lubanga Dyilo in 2012. The case focused on conscripting, enlisting, and using children under 15 in hostilities.
Stigma: Social devaluation of a person based on an attribute or perceived identity. Communities may reject children associated with armed groups, complicating their return.