2008 Fall Critical Thinking Research Topic: Child Soldiers

Please add findings below following the template on the Fall 2008 Critical Thinking Research Topics page.

Group members should also work to keep the page well organized. -Alfino

Background Information about Child Soldiers

This is all back round information about Child Soldiers. It contains links about the effects of being a child soldier, facts about it, the different countries that have child soldiers, and basic back round information.

Young Blood: Children of War

"http://library.thinkquest.org/06aug/01032/causes.html"

In this website you need to look around at the different parts that it has. It has only a couple sentences for each piece but they have a lot of information that. It has information on the causes, impacts, solutions, media, and the countries that child soldiers are in. This is a good starting.

Allison White

The Facts About Child Soldiers

""The Facts about Child Soldiers." US Department of State. http://www.state.gov/g/tip/rls/fs/2005/50941.htm"'

This is a really good website about what the United States is doing for child soldiers. It does not go really deep into the things the United States is doing but it gives some kind of idea. It is a start to looking into what the United States are doing to change child soldiers.

Allison White

The Effects of Being a Child Soldier

Yina, Martin N. "CHILD SOLDIERS IN AFRICA: THE ROLE OF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNICATIONS." Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies 20.1/2 (Sep. 2008): 120-134. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. [Library name], [City], [State abbreviation]. 5 Nov. 2008 <http://proxy.foley.gonzaga.edu:2048/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&AN=34634310&site=ehost-live>.

This essay seemed to be mainly made up of research. The essay focuses on what the effects of being a child soldiers are on those who are forced or recruited. It mainly talks about the child soldiers in Sierra Leone and Uganda. A main argument is that war compromises children's rights and also their health. It cites examples of the different results you can expect to see in children such as stress reactions, and psychiatric symptoms following trauma. The essay also describes the wars in the Sierra Leone and Uganda, showing what the children had to go through when they were in the process of becoming soldiers, and after they had been recruited into the army.

Samantha Cobb

What Constitutes Children's Rights and Are They Protected Enough?

Breen, Claire. "When Is a Child Not a Child? Child Soldiers in International Law." Human Rights Review 8.2 (Jan. 2007): 71-103. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. [Library name], [City], [State abbreviation]. 5 Nov. 2008 <http://proxy.foley.gonzaga.edu:2048/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&AN=24097141&site=ehost-live>.

First of all, this is a pretty long document, so I would recommend focusing on pages: bottom or pg. 2 (72)-top of pg. 6 (76), you could skim through the bottom pg. 12 (82)-pg. 17 (87). It is mostly about rights based on the age of the person, so it doesn't necessarily talk much about the issue of what is going on or the treatment of the child soldiers/children when they are recruited. Not one of the better articles I've found in regards to the conditions/treatment, but if we decide to look at the age factor it is very in-depth about that.

Samantha Cobb

Human Rights Watch: Child Soldiers

"Child Soldiers." Human Rights Watch. http://www.hrw.org/campaigns/crp/index.htm"

I really think this website is useful. They have put a lot of time into finding different ideas of child soldiers. They give facts about child soldiers and where it happens. It says "in approximately 17 countries around the world, children are direct participants in war. Denied a childhood and often subjected to horrific violence, many thousands of children are serving as soldiers for both rebel groups and government forces in current armed conflicts. These young combatants participate in all aspects of contemporary warfare." Take a look at this website it is worth your time!

Allison White

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Most Recent Article

Jeffrey Gettleman (2008, November 5). Congo: Child Soldiers Mobilized :[Brief]. New York Times (Late Edition (east Coast)), p. A.20. Retrieved November 6, 2008, from ProQuest National Newspapers Core database. (Document ID: 1589067601). http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=1589067601&sid=1&Fmt=3&clientId=10553&RQT=309&VName=PQD

Summary This article is from the New York Times. It talks about the most recent happening with the Child Soldiers in Congo.

Lindsay Bogan

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Children's Right

"' Early to War: Child Soldier in the Chad Conclict (2007 July). <www. hrw.org/campaigns/crp/index.htm>.""

""Summary"" This atricle focusses on the child soldiers in Chad.

""Demetri Goodson""

The Use of Children as Soldiers

"" The Use of Children as Soldiers in Africa. http://www.reliefweb.int/library/documents/chilsold.htm""

""Summary"" This article talks about the child soldiers in Africa. It addresses why child soldiers are at a high disadvantage in Battle.

""Jake Davis""

Child Soldiers

"" AFRICA: Too small to be fighting in anyone's war. http://www.irinnews.org/IndepthMain.aspx?IndepthID=24&ReportID=66280""

Summary This article goes over things such as the nature of the problem, effects on children, girls, and why society pays a high price.

Jake Davis

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The Situation in Uganda

"Uganda." Child Soldiers Global Report 2008. 31 July 2008. 11 Dec. 2008 <http://www.childsoldiersglobalreport.org/content/uganda>

If someone/multiple people decide to focus on Uganda, this website is really useful. It talks about the LRA (Lord's Resistance Army), the situation in regards to the government, and developments that have been happening. Also, if you go back a link (click on the 'Africa' link at the top of the page right above 'Uganda' it will take you to a main page about child soldiers in Africa and from there you can go to any country/area in Africa through an alphabetized list on the left side of the page.

Samantha Cobb