Topic: Reintegrating Former Child Soldiers
Country: Bolivia
Delegate Name: Tabitha Robinson
School: Flint Southwestern Classical Academy
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Bolivia position papers GLIMUN 2014 committees
A child soldier is any boy or girl who's under the age of 18 in this part of any armed organization. It’s been reported that in the last decade 2 million children have been killed, over 4 million disabled, and 12 million uprooted from their homes. UNICEF announced in 1956 the Anti-War Agenda and also the Convention of the Rights of the Child which ensure international human rights are enforced by trained NGOs and peacekeepers. To reintegrate child soldiers UNICEF efforts are made to demobilize the children, create safe communities and aid help in fixing psychological damage caused by the surrounding violence.
In July 2004 the Bolivian government acknowledged to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child that youngsters between 14 and 17 had been found active in military service. Then on the third periodic report for the Right of Child Committee scrutinize the lack of protection and care for the unaccompanied and refugee children. The Committee later urged the Bolivian government to create a functioning refugee status with special procedures and protection for minors. Then in December of 2004 Bolivia signed on the Optional Protocol and set the minimum age of compulsory enlistment to be 18 and voluntarily age of enlistment to be 17. So while Bolivia does admit they have child soldiers the government seems to be compliant in reintegrating and demolishing the idea of child soldiers.
In reintegrating child soldiers in Bolivia is to publicize the need for child rights, and furthering providing therapy directed help to children who suffer from mental health issues. Also in creating a safe environment which offers safety, nutrition, and education to Bolivian children, the children will be less likely to turn to armed forces for protection and food
