A Child Soldier
A child soldier refers to any soldier under the age of 18 or an army composed of such minors. These children are not only forcibly conscripted into armed groups or made to participate directly in hostilities, but are also exploited as cooks, messengers, spies, or subjected to sexual abuse. The use of children in this way is a grave violation of their rights. Under international human rights law, it is prohibited to mobilize anyone under 18 for war, and recruiting children under 15 as soldiers is classified as a war crime.
According to the UN’s annual report “Children and Armed Conflict,” serious violations of child rights, including child soldier recruitment, killing and maiming, and attacks on schools and hospitals, were identified in 19 countries. In 2019 alone, more than 25,000 of the most serious violations were recorded. Armed groups in long-term conflict zones such as South Sudan, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia, Syria, and Yemen have been exploiting children for their own objectives. This abuse is not limited to Africa—children in countries like Afghanistan, Mali, and Myanmar have also been used as child soldiers or support personnel by armed groups. Another alarming issue is that these children, once involved with armed groups, are often imprisoned or abused—not as victims, but as if they were perpetrators—simply because of their association with these groups.
In 2019, the Conflict Research Institute at Harvard University reported that between 300,000 and 500,000 children were being forced into warzones across more than 90 countries worldwide. One-third of these minors were girls. According to the report, 70% of child soldiers had either experienced or witnessed violence or torture, 60% had been pushed to the brink of death, 77% had witnessed killings, and 52% had been exposed to the trauma of mass murder. Alarmingly, 45% of the girls had been subjected to sexual violence or exploitation, and 27% had died during armed conflict.
UN-verified data revealed that in Nigeria and Cameroon, the extremist armed group Boko Haram used at least 135 children in suicide bombings. In Iraq and Syria, children in besieged areas were forced to serve as human shields. In Somalia, more than 1,740 children were recruited as child soldiers by armed groups as of October 2018. International terrorist organizations such as ISIS have also exploited children for suicide bombings, subjected them to brainwashing, and even forced them to carry out executions, including beheadings, as so-called jihadist fighters.
According to a UN report, 13,200 children were released from armed groups worldwide in 2019. However, many are still involved in warfare. In that same year alone, approximately 1,500 cases were confirmed in Somalia, and 600 minors were newly recruited as child soldiers during armed conflicts in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The actual number of unreported cases is believed to be much higher.
The experience of war leaves lasting damage on minors involved in violence and brutality. Even after being released, those exposed to the horrors of war carry deep psychological wounds. Both the children and their families face a long, difficult road as they struggle with stigma, fear, and the challenge of rebuilding their lives.
》Prayer Points
1. In wars and civil conflicts around the world, government forces and armed groups continue to commit the grave injustice of recruiting vulnerable and powerless children as soldiers. These children are trained to fight, forced into suicide bombings, and young girls are subjected to sexual violence. Let us pray that these horrific abuses will be stopped and that no child will be used in such brutal and inhumane warfare.
2. Even after being freed from armed groups, former child soldiers often struggle to return to normal life because of the deep trauma and pain they have endured. Let us pray that churches will rise up to care for and support these children, and that they will be healed and renewed through the love of our Heavenly Father and the power of the gospel of the cross.
》Scripture Prayer
(Proverbs 15:1–10, NIV) 1 A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. 2 The tongue of the wise adorns knowledge, but the mouth of the fool gushes folly. 3 The eyes of the Lord are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good. 4 The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit. 5 A fool spurns a parent’s discipline, but whoever heeds correction shows prudence. 6 The house of the righteous contains great treasure, but the income of the wicked brings ruin. 7 The lips of the wise spread knowledge, but the hearts of fools are not upright. 8 The Lord detests the sacrifice of the wicked, but the prayer of the upright pleases him. 9 The Lord detests the way of the wicked, but he loves those who pursue righteousness. 10 Stern discipline awaits anyone who leaves the path; the one who hates correction will die.
》Pray that the Word may become the Conclusion.
1. God’s eyes are always watching both the wicked and the righteous. The income of the wicked brings ruin, and God detests their sacrifices and disciplines them with severity. Let us pray against Satan, who delights in bloodshed and uses evil schemes to satisfy greed in every conflict. Let us trust in the Lord, who by the power of the cross has destroyed our sin-bound, sick self, and ask Him to turn death into life.
2. Let us repent for the sin of greed that, throughout human history, has driven even the weakest-children-to death in pursuit of self-interest. True transformation begins at the very core of a sinner’s being and must be renewed by the gospel of the cross. Through such righteous people, life can flow in wise and gentle words and actions. Let us pray that God will raise up born-again believers among parents, churches, governments, and educators who carry the responsibility for the next generation, so they may teach the Bible, love, and serve the children.
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