This is one question that baffles many scholars. Why children? Why recruit the vulnerable that cannot think things through? Many people here proffered answers based on the socio-cultural, socio-biological and others think of answers on the basis ‘of dirty war terror tactics against civilians in an effort to control population through intimidation and fear’
(Nordstorm,1997:9-34). They believe that to be able to control terror means that that country’s population can be controlled too.
The second reason is that of humiliation of “the enemy”; this war is fought on the bodies of the weak and unable to defend themselves. The aim is to tell the state that it is not only a failed state; it is unworthy of her people, as she cannot even protect her “innocent” children. But then if the children are made to hurt others including adults, they loose their innocence and deserve no pity and protection.
And the last argument is that children are maimed, killed and violated during wars because they are not strong enough to fight back. The holders of this view say violence against the weak by the strong is not only in the war field, but also in the domestic arena. This is to say, “the unarmed and the undefended are largely the targets of the armed”.
(Nordstorm,1997:29-34)
3.5 The Solution
Most of the predicaments that are befalling the children are preventable.
According to the “study on the impact of Armed Conflict on Children” (Nordstorm 1997: 35-46) the most helpful solution is unveiling the silence surrounding the wars children and girls are subjected to. This silence is about politics and power implicated in form of human rights abuse. Very little can be done if data on these abuses are not made known. How many girls are targeted in war, sold into forced labour, harmed in their homes and communities and why, must be known, otherwise viable interventions cannot be planned. Speaking out is also dangerous as it means speaking against trusted leaders, powerful industries, government/military officials etc. So many people just decide to keep quiet and invariably hurt the children through their silence. The study identified four major levels of solutions.
Questions
. Clarifications of series of questions will go a long way to controlling the harm done to children during conflict. The following questions must be clarified and answered. When the word“human” is used in cases of human rights violation, does it include children? When the word “child” is used, does it include “girls” as
“child” in often used is often for boys, as in child soldering. The big
problem for girl child is that she is only considered in sexual abuses and violations and there is no reference to economic potential, political awareness or moral conscience. The girl child is only seen as a “victim”, and the implication for them is that they are vulnerable, weak, lack confidence and cannot make any input in decision processes. Another problem that needs to be clarified in the issue of child is “what age are we talking about here? 12–15 years old or 5–8 years old. Most times the torture of the children before the child soldier ages are never examined. Many children though young suffer tremendous hurtful experiences.
Knowledge
. A problem known is a problem half solved. This is to emphasize the importance of knowledge, of the problem. We need to ask questions to know what percentage of casualties are girls? How the act of torture was carried out? What impact has the war experience on them? Etc. We have to let them tell their stories. We need to hear them proffer solutions, because “it is woefully easy to silence children’s own words and realities’ (Nordstorm 1997 pp 35-46). The questions will be followed through to the centre of the society and solutions rest on our (society) ability to recognize ‘the realities of justice and abuse around the world, not as abstract categories, but as very human realities taking place in the lives of very real people’. (Nordstorm, 1997: 29-34)Action
. The third level of solutions is taking actions. It is very surprising to note that the convention on the right of the child is widely accepted and as far back as 1995, 168 countries have signed the treaty, but then, it is within these countries and period that the worst child/human rights violations have taken place. It is then more important to implement the protocol than to just sign the papers. It is important that the voice of children be heard from the mouths of children not adults. Realistic actions that will make impact on how wars are fought, and how the target audience, the unarmed children should be brought to the centre stage in order to begin to give it publicity, attention and governments can begin to do something concrete.Giving Girls Agency
. In an attempt to proffer solutions on the problem of children in armed conflict, it is important to give the children a platform on which to operate. This platform will have to wear a gender lens, giving more attention to the girl child. The biggest problem girl child has in conflict situations is that; they are seen as just victims of sexual assault. Their political, economic and social potentials are never considered. The way a child is seen during war, determines what role that will be assigned her after conflict. The beauty of en-gendering these issues is that it provides models forchildren across divisions of war and peace. This process pushes for justice for all at times. Children can tell their own stories of war and peace, it is then important that a structured voice be created for them through the establishment of an agency.
Self Assessment Exercise
Discuss the ECOWAS Convention on small arms.
4.0 CONCLUSION
The role of Small Arms and Light Weapons on intra-state conflict is very strategic and impactful. The recruitment of children to perpetuate conflict through the dehumanization of human worth; is not only against traditional African values, it is a human right violation. These dangerous situations can be highly controlled if people in positions of authority give it the necessary attention and give the children the right to speak out their mind.
5.0 SUMMARY
This unit has discussed various issues concerning small arms proliferation as well as the response of ECOWAS to arrest the ugly trend. It began with a discourse on Small Arms Proliferation. It also talked on ECOWAS Convention on Small Arms and generation of Child Soldiers in West Africa. It also discussed on the solutions to these ugly trends of small arms proliferation and generation of child soldiers in Africa as a whole and West Africa in particular.
6.0 TUTOR MARKED ASSIGNMENT (TMA)
1. Why are Small Arms and Light Weapons so important in prosecuting conflict in West African region? Or
2. Which is the best approach in transforming post war trauma in the children – traditional African or Modern Western approach?
7.0 REFERENCES/FURTHER READINGS
Arms Availability and the situation of Civilians in Armed Conflict. “A study by the International Committee of the Red Cross Geneva, June, 1999
Focus on Arms in Africa Vol. 4 No1 this newsletter is a joint initiative of ISS and the African Union
Mcintyre Angela (2005) Invisible stakeholder: children and war in Africa. The Institute for security studies, Pretoria, South Africa.
Nordstrom C. (2004) Girls and Warzones: Troubling Question. Life and Peace Institute, Uppsala.
Osman Gbla (2003) ‘Conflict and Postwar Trauma Among Child Soliders in Liberia and sierra Leone’ Civil Wars, Child soldiers and Post
Conflict Peace Building in West Africa. AFSTRAG. College Press and Publishers
Sesay and Ismail (2003) ‘Introduction’ Civil Wars, Child soldiers and Post Conflict Peace Building in West Africa. AFSTRAG.
College Press and Publishers
The Rights of the Child (1995) UNICEF office Lagos Thomas Jaye (2002) War Endings, the Building of Secure Post conflict societies: The case of Liberia. Foundation for Security and Development in Africa.