" We went from children who were afraid of gunshots to now children who were gunshots...Somebody being shot in front of you, or you yourself shooting somebody became just like drinking a glass of water. Children who refused to fight, kill, or showed any weaknesses were ruthlessly dealt with."
-Ishmael Beah
Ex-Child Soldier
The use of children for military positions is a big injustice. Government forces and armed rebel groups are the ones that are at cause for hundreds of thousands of children under eighteen serving in the military. They forcefully take children from their lives, family, and friends in order to use them in military roles such as using them to take part in hostilities and support roles like porters, spies, messengers, and look outs. These children are also used for political advantage either as human shields or as propaganda. Since 2001, there have been twenty-one on-going or recent armed conflicts in almost every single region of the world in which the participation of child soldiers has been reported. Because of the children's emotional and physical immaturity, children are vulnerable to the recruitment of the military, meaning that they are manipulated easily and can be drawn to violence. This is because they are too young to resist or understand the consequence and danger. Economic and social pressures, the belief that food and security is offered, but mostly abduction and forceful recruitment are the cause as to why innocent children join the rebels. They are most likely to be poor, separated from their families, displaced from their homes, living in a combat zone, or obtain limited access to education. Both sexes are used as child soldiers, and in some places, girls are more likely to become child soldiers. Girls are more abundant in these places considering they can be raped and even given to the commanders as "wives." Many children are forces to commit horrific acts against their own families, friends, and neighbors. Even if children become free from the rebels, there is a great chance of re-recruitment and being unable to support themselves if they are unable to access a rehabilitation program. These soldiers can be found randomly throughout the world, and since the governments sometimes support the use of the children, the solution is difficult. People can raise money for rehabilitation programs, governments can send in troops, or try to suggest draft positions. In the future, this could cause many issues. The children will suffer from mental and physical problems when they grow up. The society will break and become weak, making the country vulnerable.