Child soldiering is recognized by the U.S. Government as a form of human trafficking, where children are unlawfully recruited or used by armed groups as combatants or in support roles. This includes being forced to kill, burn houses, loot, and commit other atrocities. Children are also used as sex slaves, forced to marry or be raped by commanders or combatants. In 2014, Boko Haram kidnapped over 200 girls from a school in Nigeria, subjecting them to torture, rape, and sexual slavery. Survivors like Habiba, who was captured at 15, tell of being locked in a cage, forced to marry a soldier, and eventually escaping.
The U.S. Department of State compiles a list of countries identified as having government armed forces or other groups that recruit or use child soldiers. The 2024 Trafficking In Persons Report lists 17 countries, including Afghanistan, Syria, Venezuela, and Yemen. These countries are subject to restrictions on certain types of security assistance, such as Foreign Military Financing and military equipment licensing. These restrictions will apply throughout Fiscal Year 2025, unless a presidential waiver or exception is granted. This highlights the global issue of child soldiering and the efforts to combat it.
Survivors of child soldiering share their stories on the U.S. Department of Defense Combating Trafficking in Persons Survivor Voices of Human Trafficking webpage. These stories shed light on the devastating physical and psychological consequences children face when forced into armed conflict. The survivors’ accounts bring attention to the urgent need for action to prevent the recruitment and use of child soldiers. The international community must work together to protect vulnerable children and ensure their rights are upheld.
The use of child soldiers is a grave violation of human rights, with children being subjected to unimaginable horrors and suffering. The U.S. Government and other organizations are working to address this issue through legislation like the Child Soldiers Prevention Act. By identifying and imposing restrictions on countries that recruit or use child soldiers, there is hope for progress in ending this form of human trafficking. It is essential to continue raising awareness, supporting survivors, and holding perpetrators accountable to create a world where children are not forced to become soldiers or victims of exploitation.
