Liberia's Lost Youth

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Liberia is a nation renowned for its enormous progress, and efforts to rebuild the infrastructure of its war torn country. In 2003 following a UN brokered agreement, Liberia ended its 14-year long civil war ( Second Liberian Civil War ) and with that came the agreement to disband and demobilize the 21,000^[1] reported Child Soldiers recruited on all sides of the armed conflict. The United Nations Security Council, applauded the progress of the mission in Liberia, and furthermore, extended the mission until September of 2008^[2] in Resoulution 1777 of 2007. Yet even with its successes in improving it's human rights a key issue still remains, the child soldiers who continue to be recruited and used, as well as the lack of re-integration for many recently demobilized child soldiers. These violations not only violate international law, but stand as violations to religious,ethical, and social norms as well.

1 Facts and Figures
2 Religion and Ethics
3 Social and Cultural Impacts
4 Recommendations for the Future
5 Notes

[edit] Facts and Figures

At the height of the conflict in Liberia, UNICEF reported that a startling, 21,000^[3] child soldiers were being used by both rebel groups and government forces to engage in armed conflict. The use of child soldiers violates Article 3 of [[The Universal Declaration of Human Rights]] that states “Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.”^[4]. The use of Child Soldiers is a clear violation of a child's right to life or security. In many cases, children are reported to have been threatened into submission, and placed in situations that jeopardised their livelihood. Furthermore the use of Child Soldiers also violates the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child that forbid the participation of children under 18 in hostilities,^[5] which also places a responsibility on states to re-integrate those children into society. In 2007, reports indicated that 12,000^[6]child soldiers had been demobilized, yet the remaining 9 000 have still yet to be accounted for.

[edit] Religion and Ethics

The fundmanetal precept in many if not most religions, is the sanctity of life, and most importantly the protection of the innocent and youth. The Catholic religion is no different, as it advocates the rights of all people, and the cessation of violence in general. In The Catechism of the Catholic Church it states:

"Do not slay the innocent and the righteous. The deliberate murder of an innocent person is gravely contrary to the dignity of the human being, to the golden rule, and to the holiness of the Creator. the law forbidding it is universally valid: it obliges each and everyone, always and everywhere.”^[7]

The use of child soldiers, both in their practise and intent, are obvious violations of precepts set down by the Catholic church. In an address during the Christmas season Pope Benedict XVI implored upon the people to:

“Let us ask God to help us do our part so that the dignity of children may be respected. May they all experience the light of love, which mankind needs so much more than the material necessities of life.”^[8]

Once again, the importance of children are brought to light, and the need to cease the use of child soldier's in countries such as Liberia, are only emphasised by religion as well as common creed.

Ethics also play a role, the ethics by which a government conducts itself are vital. To kill and to use others to kill, is an action that is morally wrong, and the use of child soldiers is also something that has been accepted as a morally unjust action. There is no justification for the use of child soldiers, and for the destruction of families. Thus the ethical practices of a government may be called into question, if such actions continue to take place within its borders. Furthermore, to turn a blind eye towards acts being committed that are morally wrong is to ignore one’s moral obligation to the people, and to those who have invested their trust in a government. The Liberian government is one which can be applauded for its implementation of ethical practices, yet the continued recruitment of child soldiers remains a blip on their clean slate, and is a an act that is immoral

[edit] Social and Cultural Impacts

The recruitment of child soldiers also has enormous social and cultural impacts upon Liberian families. “Recruitment” a term used loosely, often refers to the kidnapping of children from their families. The results of such actions are devastating, leaving mothers without their children, and children without parental guidance. It is as one mother describes the “recruitment” of her family, telling reporters "Our sons and husbands were dragged out of their camps into unmarked vehicles and taken away to unknown destinations"^[9] Even today, many of those families who had lost children to the conflict have yet to find the whereabouts of their child. Families are unmistakably scarred – yet that scarring goes beyond the family and extends into the society and culture itself. In a culture rich with tradition, and familial ties – much is lost to war and much is lost with the loss of a generation.

[edit] Recommendations for the Future

Though the situation is dire, the Liberian government has taken the first steps in ensuring justice for those who have had their rights violated. If the Liberian government were to take a stronger position in enforcing The Convention on the Rights of the Child, which prevents the recruitment of child soldiers, the number of violations can be reduced significantly. Furthermore, by taking steps to actively demobilize and re-integrate child soldiers into society the Liberian Government may begin to heal the wounds that have been inflicted upon its society through the use of child soldiers. The final solution lies within the government’s own integrity, to uphold and take every measure possible to educate children, and to protect their rights from being violated – through the active protection, and prevention of the recruitment of child soldier’s – and by condemning those who do with harsh punishments. The violation of child rights, or even human rights violations in general are common in society, yet few governments realize their own violations of human rights. For a government to accept its own violations, is to take the first steps in creating a socially just future for its people – steps which the Liberian government have already taken and will, without a doubt, continue to take into the future.

Amnesty International Offers the following Recomendations to the Liberian Government:^[10]

· the recruitment and use of children under the age of 18 years as combatants should be publicly condemned and the highest priority given to the immediate disarmament and demobilization of all child soldiers;

- the NCDDRR (National Commission for Disarmament, Demobilization, Rehabilitation and Reintegration) should ensure that every effort is made by all relevant actors to encourage the DDRR (Disarmament, Demobilization, Rehabilitation and Reintegration) of children;

-the NCDDRR must ensure that the specific provisions made in the DDRR program for former child soldiers, including those for girls and victims of sexual violence, are fully implemented;

-priority should be given to rehabilitating schools, improving access to basic education and encouraging vocational training and higher education;

- no child under the age of 18 years should be recruited into the new armed forces; legislation making 18 years the minimum age for military recruitment should be enacted and strictly enforced;

- effective measures should be taken to implement recommendations of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, anticipated after the Committee's thirty-sixth session, including by identifying priorities relating to child soldiers and defining strategies to implement those priorities;

- national laws and international and regional treaties on the promotion and protection of the rights of the child should be implemented and enforced;

- the NTGL should rule out the possibility of any amnesty for crimes against humanity, war crimes and other serious violations of international law, and work with civil society and the international community to bring those alleged to be responsible for these crimes to justice