The Stolen Childhoods Of Afghanistan's Child Soldiers

The use of child soldiers in Afghanistan has been a long-standing issue, with reports of children being recruited and used by both government forces and insurgent groups for years. The Taliban, in particular, has been known to employ children in their ranks, using them for various military operations, including combat, planting improvised explosive devices (IEDs), and suicide attacks. The recruitment often starts with religious schools, or madrasas, where boys as young as six are indoctrinated and trained in the use of firearms. Despite international laws prohibiting the use of child soldiers, the issue persists in Afghanistan due to factors such as poverty, family duty, and the ease of manipulation and coercion. The conflict in Afghanistan has had devastating consequences for children, with thousands killed, injured, or left with disabilities, highlighting the urgent need for action to protect this vulnerable population.

The Taliban's use of child soldiers

The recruitment and deployment of child soldiers by the Taliban have severe consequences for the children involved and their families. The conflict in Afghanistan has been one of the deadliest for children, with approximately 33,000 children killed or maimed over the past two decades. The death toll among child soldiers is particularly high, as evident in the case of Kunduz in 2015, where several children aged 14 and 15 were killed in combat just weeks after being recruited by the Taliban.

The Taliban's strategy to employ children as soldiers is influenced by several factors. Firstly, children are easier to manipulate and convince of the righteousness of jihad. Secondly, younger children do not feel responsible for providing for their families, making them more susceptible to taking on dangerous tasks. Additionally, the Taliban's madrasas attract poor families by covering expenses and providing food, clothing, and sometimes even cash incentives.

The use of child soldiers by the Taliban is a violation of international law. The Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, ratified by Afghanistan in 2003, states that non-state armed groups must not recruit persons under 18 or use them in hostilities. Furthermore, the deployment of individuals under 18 violates international law applicable in Afghanistan, and the use of children under 15 is considered a war crime.

Efforts to end the exploitation of children by the Taliban have been made, with the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) actively monitoring violations against children, including their recruitment and use by the Taliban. Additionally, individual commanders can be held accountable through prosecution by the International Criminal Court (ICC), sending a strong signal that child recruitment is unacceptable and carries significant consequences.

Child soldiers in Afghanistan's history

The use of child soldiers in Afghanistan dates back to the 1980s, when the Soviet-backed government founded the Democratic Youth Organization (DYO). The DYO recruited children between the ages of 10 and 15 to act as soldiers and spies for the military. From 1979 to 1986, approximately 30,000 Afghan youth were sent to the Soviet Union for "educational purposes". The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 resulted in the deaths of an estimated 1.8 million people, more than 300,000 of whom were children.

Following the Soviet Union's withdrawal from Afghanistan in 1989, the country descended into civil war, with large numbers of child soldiers involved in the conflict. The use of child soldiers continued after the Western intervention following the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. In July 2007, it was reported that a 14-year-old Pakistani boy was captured by Taliban forces and coerced at gunpoint to wear an explosive vest and target the governor of Khost province.

The Taliban have been known to use madrasas, or Islamic religious schools, to recruit and train child soldiers. Boys as young as six undergo indoctrination and study religious subjects for up to seven years. By the time they are 13, they have learned to use firearms and make and deploy improvised explosive devices (IEDs). These children are then introduced to specific Taliban groups in their district. The Taliban's use of child soldiers has been described as "cynical and cruel" by Patricia Gossman, a senior Afghanistan researcher.

In 2015, the Taliban added many children to their ranks, with reports of more than 100 children recruited from the Chahardara district alone. The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) reported that 155 children were recruited and used by armed groups between January and September 2020. The recruitment and use of child soldiers in Afghanistan have raised concerns over human rights abuses and the origin, extent, and adverse use of children in conflict.

Why are child soldiers used?

Child soldiers have been used in Afghanistan since the 1980s. The Taliban, in particular, has been known to use children as young as 6 to fight, plant and detonate improvised explosive devices (IEDs), and as suicide bombers.

Child soldiers are used for a variety of reasons. Firstly, children are easier to manipulate and scare into committing acts of violence. They are also more vulnerable to exploitation and abuse. In addition, children are often targeted because they are not responsible for providing for a family and are, therefore, more easily persuaded to take on dangerous tasks.

Child soldiers are also cheaper to recruit and train. In some cases, children are also kidnapped and forced into taking up arms. Others join military groups voluntarily to escape poverty, gain protection, or to connect with something resembling a family. Military organizations are viewed as a safe and secure group of comrades, distant from their difficult lives.

Children from troubled areas or conflict zones are also more likely to be accustomed to violence and have fewer educational or work opportunities, making them easier to recruit.

The number of child soldiers

In 2015, the Taliban added many children to their ranks, with some reports stating that they recruited and deployed more than 100 children from the Chahardara district alone. The Taliban have been known to target boys as young as six for indoctrination and, by the age of 13, these children are often trained in the use of firearms and the production and deployment of improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) reported that 155 children were recruited and used by armed groups between January 1 and September 30, 2020. The UN Secretary-General's 2015 annual report documented that in 2014, 68 children (65 boys and 3 girls) were recruited, with 22 cases verified. The number of verified cases jumped to 43 in 2015, but the report warned that the actual figure could be much higher due to under-reporting.

In 2017, there were 3,179 reported cases of children killed and maimed due to conflict-related violence in Afghanistan, with the war killing a record number of civilians in 2018. The conflict has had a devastating impact on children, with more than four million estimated to have acquired disabilities due to the war.

The use of child soldiers in Afghanistan is not a new phenomenon. It dates back to the 1980s when the Soviet-backed government founded the Democratic Youth Organization (DYO), which recruited children between the ages of 10 and 15 as soldiers and spies. From 1979 to 1986, approximately 30,000 Afghan youth were sent to the Soviet Union for 'educational purposes'. The use of child soldiers continued after the Western intervention following the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

The recruitment of child soldiers is driven by a range of factors, including economic difficulties, a sense of duty to the family, patriotism, and honor. Poverty is a significant factor, as many children join the Afghan Local Police (ALP) and Afghan National Police (ANP) to support their families financially. Additionally, the prestige associated with joining the national security forces provides a strong social incentive.

The Taliban's strategy of employing children as soldiers has been described as "cynical and cruel," and it is a violation of international law. The Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, ratified by Afghanistan in 2003, states that non-state armed groups may not recruit persons under 18 or use them in hostilities. The Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC), of which Afghanistan is a member, deems the use of children under 15 in combat as a war crime.

Addressing the issue of child soldiers in Afghanistan requires a comprehensive approach, including promoting education and employment opportunities, establishing 18 as the minimum age for recruitment, and providing extensive mental health services for rehabilitation and demobilization.

International efforts to prevent child soldiers

The use of child soldiers in Afghanistan has been a concern for decades, with the practice being carried out by both government forces and insurgents. The recruitment of minors is triggered by a complex set of reasons, including duty to the family, patriotism, honour, and economic difficulties. In response, there have been several international efforts to prevent the use of child soldiers in Afghanistan and around the world.

In 2000, the United Nations (UN) General Assembly adopted the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict. This protocol is a commitment that states will not recruit or conscript children under the age of 18 and will take measures to prevent such recruitment. The protocol entered into force in 2002 and has been ratified by a majority of countries worldwide.

In addition to the Optional Protocol, the UN Security Council has identified six grave violations against children in conflict situations, including the recruitment or use of children as soldiers. Resolutions 1539 and 1612, adopted in 2004 and 2005 respectively, call for the establishment of mechanisms to monitor children in armed conflict. These mechanisms are now in place in many countries, and the data collected contributes to the Secretary-General's annual report on children and armed conflict.

The UN has also established the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, which works to prevent the recruitment and use of children by state armed forces and to support their release and reintegration into civilian life. In 2014, the Special Representative launched the "Children, Not Soldiers" campaign, which received immediate support from member states, UN agencies, and the general public. As a result of this campaign, all eight states implicated in the use of child soldiers have signed Action Plans with the UN to end and prevent their recruitment.

The European Union (EU) has also made the prevention and elimination of grave violations against children affected by armed conflict a priority. The EU allocated approximately 285.5 million EUR in 2022 for protection in humanitarian settings, with a significant portion allocated directly to activities targeting children associated with armed conflict. The EU supports humanitarian and long-term development and peacebuilding projects to assist children impacted by armed violence in countries including Colombia, Myanmar, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia, South Sudan, Syria, and Yemen.

Canada has also been a leading advocate on the issue of children and armed conflict. They have provided $2 million to UNICEF's "Children, Not Soldiers" campaign and have established and chaired the Group of Friends on Children and Armed Conflict at the UN. Additionally, Canada has funded several initiatives related to the prevention of recruitment and demobilization of child soldiers, including projects in Colombia, South Sudan, and West and Central African countries.

Furthermore, in 2017, Canada introduced the Vancouver Principles, which prioritize the prevention of the recruitment and use of child soldiers during peacekeeping missions. The Vancouver Principles include a set of pledges by member states, such as encouraging the inclusion of child protection mandates in peacekeeping operations, addressing early warning signs of child recruitment, and providing psychological support for peacekeepers faced with child soldiers.

While these international efforts have made some progress, it is important to recognize that the use of child soldiers remains a complex and ongoing issue in Afghanistan and other parts of the world.

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