Why does child soldiering happen at all, and how can it be prevented?
In the popular debate, poverty is often identified as the cause of child soldier recruitment. The argument suggests that economic deprivation and few viable life choices push children into recruitment for armed conflict. Using researches ,we can find some evidence that the poorest regions are more subjected to child soldier recruitment. However, other factors, such as the existence of refugee camps seem to outperform the poverty explanation.
Children are recruited by both government and rebel armed forces, and often serve in paramilitary, militia or self-defense groups backed by state authorities which might not conscript children themselves. Despite increased efforts of the international community to combat child soldiering, children are being recruited and re-recruited for conflicts. This dire trend calls for action, not only on the improvement and strengthening of the international norms and programs, but also on the systematic investigation of the root causes of child soldier recruitment.