Reintegrating Former Child Soldiers

Topic: Reintegrating Former Child Soldiers
Country: Albania
Delegate Name: Hannah Walker
School: Mattawan High School

Albania would like to recognize the prolific and significant issues of child soldiers. This issue has particularly escalated as regional conflicts- particularly in Africa, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia- have evolved from unrest to violence. Child soldiers face constant harsh training regimens, physical and psychological abuse, and separation from their family. However, these issues continue even after escaping armed conflict. Poverty, malnutrition, poor job prospects, and weak political institutions remain as a recurring problem that former child soldiers face. Only a handful of countries in the problem areas have ratified the Optional Protocol that prohibits the conscription into the military of children under the age of 18 and ensures that military volunteers under the age of 18 are exempted from taking a direct part in hostilities, but many child soldiers are much younger than that. Many are under the age of 10, and some are even younger than 7. It is evident that the issue involving child soldiers and their reintegration into society reach be addressed.

In past years, Albania has expressed their support on this issue through the ratification of different documents. The Optional Protocol to the International Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict, referred to as the Optional Protocol, was ratified by the Albanian Parliament on 22 November 2007. This protocol became an integrated part of Albania’s internal judicial system in December after the publication in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Albania. Additionally, the Constitution of the Republic of Albania protects “human rights and fundamental freedoms” and considers them as “indivisible, inviolable and inalienable”, which stand on “the foundations of all judicial order”. As such, they are assured and equally valid not only to Albanian nationals, but also to aliens and to individuals without citizenship in the territory of Albania, without any form of discrimination. Therefore, Albania fully protects the rights of children and would like to see this issue resolved or decreased. We would also like to see former child soldiers to have the ability to integrate back into society easily and get treatment for any mental and physical health ailments.

Due to the large monetary demand for such treatment resources, countries who have signed the Optional Protocol but are without a large monetary budget should seek assistance from Non-Government Organizations, specifically those from other countries in support of the Optional Protocol. NGOs may also be used to solve issues relating to the reintegration of former soldiers into society: establishing order, developing communities, and providing economic opportunities. For those countries not in support of children’s rights, allied countries should try to compromise on issues of age and other factors. We must realize that this will take years to accomplish but is necessary.

Topic: Reintegrating Former Child Soldiers
Country: Argentina
Delegate Name: Alexandria D’Antonio
School: Royal Oak High School

The problems with the conditions facing child soldiers and their outcomes are a constant pressing matter, especially since there are an estimated 300,000 child soldiers currently in active conflict zones around the world. Children coming back into society would need health-care services, psychological counseling, and educational and recreational activities. The lack of resources countries face is a problem in itself that would be hard for such needs to be followed through on.

The United Nations had brought more attention to these problems with the 1990 Convention on the Rights of the Child along with the Optional Protocol adopted by the General Assembly in 2002. Argentina signed the Optional Protocol in 2002, ratifying it two years later, and although our nation isn't facing major conflicts at the moment, we can still relate to this integration process with our indigenous peoples. Argentina has 35 native groups who are conflicted with the discrimination they encounter and are feeling as if they are treated as second class citizens. Child soldiers being put back into society face problems such as being subjected to violence, intimidation, and discrimination with their human rights ignored. Similarly, Argentina's 35 indigenous groups confront these same issues. Argentina had created the Essential Public Health Functions and Programs Project: Indigenous Peoples in 2006 in which includes a variety of programs that helps our natives such as giving necessary advice to certain communities and even the coordination of support programs for things such as intercultural education. Although the project’s success was limited, Argentina believes that it was from the misunderstood communications between our indigenous peoples and the government that had created unfavorable results. However, we continue to work passionately with our indigenous peoples. Argentina acknowledges, like we do with our native citizens, that working towards a solution stemming from issues such as discrimination and basic human rights, is a very long process.

Argentina hopes to see more being done during this committee. We look forward to see our committee work on a solution that would help break this second class citizen treatment that former child soldier’s face in order for them to integrate successfully and acquire a civil status in their community. Argentina is open to any suggestions along with the collaboration of other countries that are willing to work towards a common goal.

Topic: Reintegrating Former Child Soldiers
Country: Austria
Delegate Name: Lucas Calderon
School: Forest Hills Northern High School

Children have had a role in the battlefield for a long time, whether it has been relaying messages across enemy lines or fighting on the frontline, children have played a role doing one thing or another in the field of battle. Austria firmly claims that this has to stop; it goes against basic human rights that everyone is born with. War affects children in many ways, not just physically but also mentally. When we take children out of a war zone we have to be careful not to just let them go out immediately to the real world but give them proper care medically, and mentally. During the time that the children are at war, children will start to learn that their problems can be solved by violence and anger, especially if they are at the ages where they are most susceptible to outside influences. This will give them a hostile attitude in their daily lives, another point to remember is that they will suffer from Post-traumatic stress disorder and even though they are children we can't forget common disorders. Austria asserts that although medical attention is needed, it is just as or more important to have psychological counseling for child soldiers being reintegrated back into society. With this in mind we have to set up/station places where children can receive the care and treatment they need. Also, Austria believes that transition communities are vital parts of the movement from soldiers to civilians. This way we can monitor and control different variables that would happen in normal society (for example loud banging noises can sometimes be a trigger for ex-soldiers). Although we want to have these areas, we do not want to make them feel confined or trapped in these areas, we would provide liberties to the members giving it a more of a retirement home feel unlike a prison feel (but obviously it would only retire the children from the army, Austria wants places that feel similar to a retirement home but not one exactly)

Topic: Reintegrating Former Child Soldiers
Country: Bangladesh
Delegate Name: Elise Wassink
School: Forest Hills Eastern High School

In many countries in Africa, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia, problems involving child soldiers and their subsequent lives after service are becoming prevalent. Such regions that allow for child soldiering often do not have adequate resources and abilities to take care of and provide for child veterans who often suffer from vulnerability and mental and/or physical disabilities. Many cultures and customs have stigmas against former child soldiers; such stigmas inhibit the reintegration of these children. It must be addressed how to guide reintegration of child soldiers and at what level of government such guidance should be appointed.

The People’s Republic of Bangladesh supports the reintegration of child soldiers. However, it is necessary for governments to have support systems in place to facilitate a safe return. Education, counseling, and public services must be implemented into societies in order to successfully reintegrate physically or mentally damaged child veterans. Bangladesh has free and public education for all minors, and one of the largest primary education systems in the world. In addition, Bangladesh has “provided [technology] to schools, stipends to 11.90 million students every year,915 million free text books to students in four years, financial support from the “Prime Minister’s Trust Fund” to poor students for higher studies, school feeding program funded by local donors to schools, modern curriculum to [educational institutions], [and] teaching [to] those with autism and other developmental disorders.” Additionally, an emphasis on education may help reduce national stigmas that prevent former child soldiers from being accepted backed into their community. These national advances are exemplified in the 68th UNGA speech on educational initiative in the People’s Republic of Bangladesh.

Education is one of the most important means of reintegration of former child soldiers. In order for a country to successfully implement an integrated education system, reforms and constant efforts should be made to more easily facilitate education to a nation’s youth and, more importantly and specifically, to any former child soldiers. Providing free and public education on a national level is critical to the reintegration of child soldiers, and must be encouraged by the United Nations as much as possible.

Topic: Reintegrating Former Child Soldiers
Country: Belarus
Delegate Name: Vivian Pendergast
School: Royal Oak High School

After saving a child from being a soldier, the child often has trauma or is an orphan or many other horrible events and possibilities that can happen to a soldier let in the battle field. Belarus believes to help these children we have to help fund certain programs such as the DDR or the IRC. these programs each the children how to be civilized again and help them find a home.

The (OPAC) an international standard which was put in place by the UN that states you must be at least eighteen to be in any type of military job internationally. So why don't try to get these children into safer places they have been through to much for their young age. Countries can fund these programs by setting up fundraisers such as having a big corporations donate a quarter of each days work (one each month ) to each program. It is not very much but it will help the children very much.All though Belarus cannot force the companies do donate this money to the IRC and the DDR, it would be good for them as a company. We could show that it would also help them as well as the children of the world. Helping child soldiers will help the world become a better place and will allow many people to become happier. I would recommend the delegates read the website of the program, to see how much they can help the former soldiers.

The website of this program is

(http://www.child-soldiers.org/international_standards.php)

Topic: Reintegrating Former Child Soldiers
Country: Benin
Delegate Name: Allie Ingalls
School: Royal Oak High School

Benin recognizes the seriousness of bringing back child soldiers into a safe and stable community. We also recognize the issues and hardships that come with providing shelter and putting the children back into a normal routine. The problem of providing for child soldiers have become significantly harder through the past years. It is our belief that we do our best as a developing country to keep the children out of harms way and do what we can to ensure the safety and best interest of the child. We believe that our committee can make this possible and help find a solution to the arising problem.

As a developing country we will do what we can to provide help for the children who have been put in such a horrifying predicament. We see that the problem is a big conflict, and Benin would like to put ideas on how to deal with the conflict. As a develop country we also have some concerns on what criteria the resolution will have. Where would the hosting families be? What criteria must the family have to be a hosting family? Would the children be put into special schools or jobs? A good resolution must address these questions and also provide a way to help the children with out harming the economy of countries. A good resolution will provide ways to provide housing and schooling for child soldiers with out damaging economies.

Benin hopes and plans to help provide new ways and ideas on how to solve the issue of bringing child soldiers back home. Benin also believes that a good resolution will have an effective solution to all the above questions and concerns.

Topic: Reintegrating Former Child Soldiers
Country: Bolivia
Delegate Name: Tabitha Robinson
School: Flint Southwestern Classical Academy

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

Topic: Reintegrating Former Child Soldiers
Country: Canada
Delegate Name: Maggie Tuitel
School: East Grand Rapids High School

Canada believes that the efforts through The Conventions on the Rights of the Child to reintegrate child soldiers is working, but stronger efforts of accountability need to be put in place to ensure that the goals of reintegration are met. In the early 1980’s, child soldiering emerged among countries in Africa, increasing controversy over the rights that children have. Canada ratified The Conventions on the Rights of the Child on the 13th of December in 1991 which states that children have the right to protection, provision and participation, applying to all children at all times. This convention also protects children from military deployment into armed conflicts. Compared to adults, children are seen as less independent and to have less status in society. Throughout the beginning of life, children are more vulnerable to poverty, inadequate healthcare, education, nutrition and safety. Growing up in a society where there is a lot of poverty, malnutrition, poor job prospects and a weak government makes a child more vulnerable to child soldering. Being thrown into a war zone at such a young age negatively affects a child’s development. By being separated form their parents at such a young age, child soldiers encounter psychological and physical abuse as well as harsh training and violence.

Canada believes that when dealing with child soldiers returning home, There are three components that should be emphasized when reintegrating children into society: family reunification, psychosocial support, and education and economic opportunity. We should teach parents to appreciate their child, not to shame or reject them. Giving the soldiers to special programs who help to reintegrate the children has proven to work less than actually integrating them back into their community. Experience shows that one should bring the child back to its family and community as soon as possible. The children need to form strong relationships with the adults in their communities due to the mistrust they’ve experienced with soldier leaders. Being in their home helps bring comfort and safety to the child during the reintegrating process, making it easier for them to become more used to community living. As well, learning or re-learning family rituals and participating in community meditation helps remove stress, which speeds up the reintegration process. It has proven more effective to help the communities figure out a plan for reintegrating the child into society, rather than sending them to a program. When the child returns home, there needs to be a program for education. Most families don’t have the money to pay for it, but programs like UNICEF raise money for education which helps cover the costs needed to educate children in order for them to get a job. Being able to provide for these children returning home is the most crucial thing a family needs to do. The assistance from programs to help create plans is very important to stress in situations like this. Although most would think to give the children to programs away from their home, it is most effective to let the children reintegrate into their communities right when they get home so that their family and community help them achieve all of the goals needed for reintegration.

Topic: Reintegrating Former Child Soldiers
Country: Colombia
Delegate Name: Madeleine Clements
School: Fishers High School

For more than fifty years the Republic of Colombia has been engaged in internal conflicts fueled by economic, social and political differences. One of the unfortunate consequences of this ongoing conflict has been the rise in child soldiers recruited or forced to join the ranks of rebel groups including the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC). The FARC, a left-wing guerilla (extremist) group has been widely known to recruit children and train them to be soldiers in their cause. Human Rights Watch estimates there are 11,000 to 14,000 child soldiers in Colombian guerrilla groups. It has been estimated that as many as 47% of FARC soldiers were recruited as children. Some children voluntarily join the FARC for various reasons including money or because they are swayed by rebel propaganda. Others are forced to join through threats and intimidation, or through conscription.

In recent years, many FARC child recruits have voluntarily deserted their positions with the rebel group. Others have been captured by government soldiers. Columbia believes that minors who were former members of a rebel group are still subject to judicial process for crimes they may have committed as a member of that group. In an effort to address the problems presented by former child soldiers, the Columbian Constitutional Court has established a Disarmament Demobilization and Reintegration process (DDR). The DDR distinguishes between former child soldiers guilty of “Gross Violations of Human Rights” and former child soldiers with minor offenses. Under the DDR, being a minors is not an excuse where the crime is deemed a “Gross Violation” and those found guilty of such crimes face eight years in prison. For minors with no infractions or minor violations, they may receive a pardon and be offered reintegration services. Because many former child soldiers leave the FARC and other rebel groups with significant behavioral, educational and social challenges, reintegration is difficult at best. There are government run rehabilitation programs and “safe communities” such as Don Bosco City, established to aid in the demobilization and reintegration of these former child soldiers. The location of many of these programs is kept confidential to protect the participants from retaliation from rebel groups. Additional rehabilitation programs are run by well-known national, international and religious organizations in cooperation with the Colombian government. The ultimate goal of the Columbian government is to reintegrate these former child soldiers back into society. For those who are still minors, efforts are made to relocate their families to safer regions before reuniting them, or placing the children in safe foster homes.

The Republic of Colombia feels that all nations should balance the crimes committed by minors under periods of conflict. Serious consideration should be given to the time spent as a child soldier and the specifics of the crimes committed before determining a course of action regarding punishment or rehabilitation. As in many other countries, the severity of the crime may make the crime still punishable by imprisonment regardless of their age. However, the people of Columbia believe the focus should be put on developing a reintegration system that emphasizes behavioral modification, educational enrichment and social responsibility, when appropriate.

Citations

Pagan, La Shawn. "Colombia's War on Child Soldiers." Media Global News. United Nations, n.d. Web. 7 Nov. 2014

"The Great Lakes Invitational Conference Association." The Great Lakes Invitational Conference Association. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Nov. 2014

"Colombia Child Soldiers." BBC World Service. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 Nov. 2014.

"Mexico Seeks Lessons from Colombia's War on FARC." Weekend Edition Sunday 2 Jan. 2011. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 12 Nov. 2014

"COLOMBIA: Don Bosco City Providing Hope to More Than 83,000 Orphaned Youth." COLOMBIA: Don Bosco City Providing Hope to More Than 83,000 Orphaned Youth. Mission Newswire, 13 Sept. 2014. Web. 12 Nov. 2014

"Years Of Combat Experience, And Just Turning 20." NPR. NPR, 30 May 2013. Web. 12 Nov. 2014.

De Rivaz, Charlie. "FARC Systematically Recruits Child Soldiers: Study." Colombia Reports. N.p., 17 Sept. 2013. Web. 12 Nov. 2014

Cruz, Maria F. "The War on Child Soldier Recruitment Begins at School." Mercy Corps. N.p., 22 June 2012. Web. 12 Nov. 2014.

Topic: Reintegrating Former Child Soldiers
Country: Congo
Delegate Name: Gus Hlavacek
School: Saginaw Arts and Sciences Academy

Since the war between North and South Kivu ended in 2002 the amount of children enlisted as soldiers has gone down, with tens of thousands of child soldiers being released since then. However, there are still children in the army that were drafted in through integration processes, and truly effective ways and tools to completely keep children out of the draft are still missing in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Unfortunately in late 2011 to early 2012 conflicts in the Democratic Republic of Congo intensified, leading to a slight increase of the amount of child soldiers in our nation particularly in Eastern regions, as well as allegations of support from Rwanda of these groups.

In March of 2012, International Criminal Court convicted Thomas Lubanga of the war crime of enlisting and conscripting under-15s and using them in hostile environments, and on October 4th, 2012, the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo signed an Action Plan to end the use of child soldiers in their forces.

Our nation recognizes not only the physical damage that happens to these child soldiers but also the mental damage of being forced into the army at such a young age as well as the importance of addressing this issue. Because of this, we are currently working with Child Soldiers International with a goal to “Support national NGOs working on child soldier prevention at provincial and community levels to carry out advocacy with administrative, military and judicial authorities, and engage with armed forces, armed groups and affected communities.”

Topic: Reintegrating Former Child Soldiers
Country: Ethiopia
Delegate Name: Jordyn Wexler
School: Roeper School

Ethiopia looks forward to the collaboration between other nations around the world to help manage the reintegration of child soldiers. Ethiopia does not condone the use of child soldiers in our military. However, some neighboring nations’ armies or militant groups in these nations do make use of child soldiers. Because of this reality we know how important it is for UNICEF to address this issue. Through the use of projects involving psychosocial support, education, and family reunification we hope to make the reintegration process as complete as possible for those children affected as soldiers.

As of now, there is an estimate of 300,000 child soldiers in the world. The majority of these child soldiers have been taken forcibly, and at an integral part of their development. At a time when these boys and girls should be socialized spending time with their family and community and receiving an education, they are instead subjected to violence. The key difference between an adult returning to peaceful society and a child making the same return is that the adult has likely had proper adolescence and matured, whereas most of what a child in the military has learned is lessons of violence in preparation for a horrific future.

A demobilized child soldier who is expected to reintegrate with the community cannot just go back to living in the manner in which they have already lived; they have to figure out a way of going about everyday life in a way that does not involve the practices of the military, because during their development that is all they have been exposed to. It is not only the children who have to make difficult adjustments when reintegrating but also the families who are welcoming them back. There are tendencies among family members to have concerns on whether or not to even accept the child soldier into their home if they were involved in atrocities like torture and killings. This is specifically prevalent in northern Uganda, where families feared that reuniting child soldiers would attract rebel groups in the future.

In order to successfully reintegrate child soldiers it is important to put emphasis on psychosocial support programs. These programs are crucial to addressing the pugnacious behaviors that a child soldier develops as well as to aid them through past stressful experiences. There was a study done by the International Labor Organization (ILO) in Burundi, where they gave support to youths by giving tools such as microfinance, training and internships. The study gave support to a total of 643 people, 452 demobilized child soldiers and the other 191 youths that had never been soldiers who were used as a control group. Both groups of children participated in all of the same activities. The result was that years after the program the demobilized child soldiers seemed not to do any worse in most areas than their fellow participants who had not been child soldiers. Another technique that has worked well has been family reunification or other family-based living arrangements. In a survey done in El Salvador, 84 percent contended that family reunification was the most important part in transition to civilian life.

But it is not always easy to find the families of the child soldiers or people who are willing to take care of them, which is why programs like the International Rescue Committee (IRC) are important. The IRC offers interim care for demobilized child soldiers while they seek out their families or relatives who would be willing to take care of them. It is also crucial to create more programs specifically oriented towards demobilized girl child soldiers, because of the difference in the brutalities they face such as rape. The ILO studies found that the girls “run a greater risk of developing depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.” As an example about 33 percent of the ex-child soldiers in El Salvador are girls, yet there are no specific program strategies for them. Ethiopia believes that any nation who favors the health and well being of minors will support implementation of programs to help reintegrated child soldiers.

Ethiopia looks forward to working with other nations to help youths that have faced the detrimental experience of being child soldiers reintegrate into society in the best manner possible.

Topic: Reintegrating Former Child Soldiers
Country: France
Delegate Name: Hannah Ploof
School: Forest Hills Central High School

Child soldiers are a very large problem in many countries in today’s world. A child soldier is someone, boy or girl, under the age of 18 that is used as a combatant, messenger, porter, cook, or a sexual service. Being one of these soldier creates many physiological and physical problems that need to be combated for the children before they are to be put back into regular society. The main countries this is occurring in are Afghanistan, Angola, Burundi, Colombia, Congo, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mozambique, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, and Uganda. Many of these countries are developing and have revolutionaries or loose government's with little control, increasing their chances of having these young soldiers. Around 300,000 children are involved in 30 conflicts worldwide and those children need to be removed from the conflicts and be reintegrated into society. For this to happen, they first need to identify the young people involved and then they will need to go through extensive amounts of therapy, education, work experience, skill building, and classes to learn basic skills that are lost due to the early age trauma experienced in the conflicts.

In 2002, the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child outlawed the involvement of children under the age of 18 in hostilities. It also required States to raise the age for compulsory recruitment and direct participation in conflicts to the age of 18. This was to eliminate the problem of there being child soldiers in the first place, but it is very hard to monitor and there is not an easy way to stop non-governmental affiliated groups from taking under age people. Besides this place of legislation, there are many things that UNICEF and NGO are doing to help out the countries in need. Things such as giving a protective environment for children, raising advocacy for the problem, providing protection and support for those harmed, and going into individual countries to assist are going on to this day.

France was one of the very first countries to sign the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child and wish to help stop the cause more. Extending the efforts that UNICEF is already doing and getting the UN more involved would help. Also, there should be more legislation and the legislation already in place should be more enforced. We do not agree with child soldiers and think this is a very large problem that needs to be acted on immediately.

France will work with most countries to help solve this problem. We would really like large countries, such as England and the United States to help us tackle reintegrating child soldiers. We believe most countries will not oppose this due to the high need to stop this problem and because everyone can benefit from this problem creasing. Reintegrating the soldiers and stopping the recruitment of them can highly benefit all of the world and because of that, we would like everyone's help and believe we will face very little resistance.

Topic: Reintegrating Former Child Soldiers
Country: Georgia
Delegate Name: Caroline Kuiper
School: Forest Hills Central High School

Hundreds of thousands of children are still enlisted in armed forces and groups around the world today, either as direct participants in acts of warfare, or indirect accessories through their work as spies and in the sex trade among other things. The recruitment and use of children in armed international and internal conflicts is a violation of their fundamental rights. It leads to physical, emotional, and psychological damage that, in the long run, hinders their development and affects their role in society. The situation of child soldiers continues to remain problematic, not only during their direct or indirect participation in hostilities, but also when hostilities have ceased or when they are captured during conflict. Today children as young as nine have been involved in armed conflicts, and often these children grow up in war-torn areas where social and economic structures have collapsed. Child soldiers are required to perform a range of tasks including participation in combat, spying, and taking part in the sex trade among other things.

In 2002, the General Assembly signed and adopted A/RES/54/263 (the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict), which serves today as the UN‘s most effective plan to combat the use of child soldiers. The resolution created further restrictions and safeguards against the recruitment of children, and opened the door for more cooperation among hostile state governments. Following the resolution the UN assigned the International Labor Organization the task of taking own cases of where reports of child soldiers were most apparent. In early March of this year when the International Criminal Court‘s found the rebel leader Thomas Lubanga Dyilo of the DRC guilty for recruiting and using child soldiers in hostilities. The decision served as a warning to other military leaders who recruit and kidnap children.

In terms of how we can solve this pressing issue, Georgia would like to offer these ideas and hopes to work with other countries to develop them. Millions of children that survive conflicts are left with serious psychological trauma, yet they are left to survive on their own without programs to treat them. Moreover, these survivors need both physical and physiological treatment, which could be done through shelters or adoption homes. Many armed groups frequently operate in dangerous, inaccessible zones to which observers do not have access and many children perform. As a result, rebels operate freely without the threat of being caught or penalized. Thus, the developing countries where child soldiers are being recruited need some type of incentive for them to inspire them to allow UN soldiers to enter or for their own soldiers to be trained. Corruption often opens doors for rebel groups to operate, while outside organizations are not allowed to police others areas as a matter of state sovereignty. The UN and other regulatory organizations could offer sanctions or incentives for them to give up some local autonomy. International programs lack funds and adequate resources necessary in order to sustained long- term investments needed to be effective. Therefore, a plan for funding must be provided for by organizations and states outside of developing hostile zones.

Topic: Reintegrating Former Child Soldiers
Country: Germany
Delegate Name: Harrison Greenleaf
School: Williamston High School

The most pressing issues relating this topic is how child soldiers should be reintegrated while facing many challenges. There has been many ways that people have tried to reintegrate child soldiers. Among those, being able to return to their families or communities have been the most effective. The dilemma with that solution is most countries, who are affected by this issue, do not have the resources for reuniting families. Another obstacle with reintegrating child soldiers is that resources have to be focused on one level. There are difficulties with sending money or aid to both local and regional levels due to corruption. In the past the “Universal Declaration of Human Rights” and Optional Protocol has been used to solve issues regarding child soldiers in the past. The United Nations and UNICEF must figure out what methods, whether it’s through medical, psychological, or community, would be most effective. We must also evaluate where resources should be focused. Children across the world have been effected by child soldiers and they need our help.

Germany has great interest in seeing this topic of reintegrating child soldiers solved, mainly because Germany wants the best care for former child soldiers. Germany has put in a lot of effort and resources in the past to fight the problems relating to child soldiers. The delegation of Germany fully supports the Optional Protocol and all movements that support the fight against child soldiers. Since the early 2000’s Germany has been supporting UNICEF and the fight to care for child soldiers by giving millions of euros. The economic stability of Germany allows for flexibility in giving money to help UNICEF and NGOs reintegrate child soldiers. Germany would like to see this issue resolved as soon as possible.

Germany would propose to resolve this issue by working with other nations to find and fund the best ways to reintegrate child soldiers. Germany finds the use of child soldiers to be inhumane and will be more than willing to work with other countries to find ways to best reintegrate child soldiers. The Delegation of Germany would like to work with any countries who align with our views. Germany wants all former child soldiers to be cared for, whether it’s through the creation and enforcement of legislation, gathering of funds, or any other ideas. The Delegation of Germany wants to see all aspects of child soldiers erased and all former child soldiers cared for through the adaption of the “Universal Declaration of Human Rights" .

Topic: Reintegrating Former Child Soldiers
Country: Guatemala
Delegate Name: Brennan McClain
School: Mattawan High School

The delegation of Guatemala would like to recognize the importance of reintegrating former child soldiers. The most successful way of returning these children back to society would be to reunite them with their family. The pressing issue is that Guatemala, along with several other nations, does not have the resources to return these children back to their families. Regardless of our political importance in the world, the use of child soldiers is still against our cultural morals. Through the help and efforts from the United Nations, and most importantly UNICEF, we must find what actions would be most effective at addressing this problem. Guatemala has serious issue with putting child soldiers back into the community and the children need our help.

Although Guatemala cannot give the financial aid to UNICEF to fight the ongoing battle of children being used as soldiers, we still fully support Optional Protocol and all other movements to fight the use of child soldiers. Guatemala has the option of children to join the military, and are sometimes forced. As the delegate of Guatemala, we must grow from these beliefs. Once again, children being used as soldiers is a problem that must be addressed.

Guatemala would like to request help and foreign aid from prospering nations that are wishing to see and promote positive change in the world. We do not yet have the financial stability to help reintegrate child soldiers back into the community. These children, especially those in Guatemala, need our help to return to their families. The only way this is possible, is through the efforts of UNICEF and the United Nations.

Topic: Reintegrating Former Child Soldiers
Country: India
Delegate Name: Ella Tretter
School: Vicksburg High School

The use of children soldiers in India is quite common; in 2013 3,000 children soldiers were reported. Though the voluntary age to join military forces is 16-18, children under 16 are getting drawn into rebel groups. Poverty is one of the main reasons for the growth of child soldiers. Children see the rebels living well-off lives leading them to believe joining the rebels will bring an opportunity to get out of their misery. Whether it is force or voluntary the actual number of recruited children is not as evident as in other countries, but there is an increasing number of children being recruited to active combat in India.

In Chhattisgarh, Maoist “Naxalite” rebels use child soldiers. They introduce or induct children around the age of 6 into children organizations and teach children at the age of 12 to help in armed squads. They receive weapons training and may also participate in armed encounters with government security forces.

Reintegrating former child soldiers properly isn’t a main priority in India, for they are usually just sent back with no resources in place to help with their mental issues. India doesn't see it as a problem for most of the children that join different rebel forces are being allowed by their parents and or joining by choice. Putting them back into their “normal lives” is difficult since they are growing up learning and being introduced to such violence at such a young age.

Topic: Reintegrating Former Child Soldiers
Country: Italy
Delegate Name: Hannah Baird
School: Forest Hills Eastern High School

Stemming from poor economic structures, child soldiering offers an escape for many recruits, but though they may temporarily escape the socioeconomic hardships, they are, by recruitment, subjected to physical and psychological abuse that impacts their lives more than the lack of a job ever could. Although the Optional Protocol set a minimum age of 18 for recruitment, the guideline has not yet been ratified by all countries in problem areas, thus defeating the purpose of the act. When former child soldiers, bearing the hardships of war in their minds and wearing the scars of combat on their young bodies, return to their community, the lack of infrastructure to successfully transition them back into normality results in a harsh cycle of poverty. Adding to their hostile situation, former child soldiers are often shunned by their family and society for their actions in combat and their experiences with brutality. Those that have served for their country are being swept aside.

As a nation forged in the hope for bettering the lives of all citizens, Italy believes that at-risk countries have the ability and obligation to aid in the reintegration of former child soldiers through the assisted funding of public school systems and the implementation of mental health facilities in problematic areas. With 99% literacy rate as of 2012, we pride ourselves in the use of both public and private education and feel that the funding of such institutions would be beneficial in the transitioning of former child soldiers back into society. Through the implementation of mental health institutions in conflicting countries, former child soldiers will be given the option to seek help for the psychological abuse that was inflicted upon them in war.

Although funding is an issue do to insufficient assets, UNICEF can assist in the execution of education and health programs through investments in programs such as social finance, which will allow countries to build capital and assist struggling nations. For best effect, available resources such as public education and mental health programs should be concentrated on the local level to be available to all afflicted. Schools will provide secure environments in which former child soldiers will be given the opportunity to readjust to the societal norms, and through the medical field, support can be given to affected individuals so as to acknowledge the psychological impact of war and help to treat it. UNICEF can help to ensure the proper implementation of facilities through Quality Assurance and can facilitate the collection of data in problem zones to evaluate the impact of programs on society and former child soldiers. Italy is ready and excited to collaborate with other nations to further develop a plan that will not only benefit former child soldiers, but will be of value to the world in its entirety.

Topic: Reintegrating Former Child Soldiers
Country: Kazakhstan
Delegate Name: Del Kelly
School: Kalamazoo Central High School

The country of Kazakhstan is in support of the reintegration of former child soldiers. Kazakhstan’s plan for child soldiers that are disadvantaged, poor, and orphan children is to send them to special schools. All the children that are at the age of ten receive a small amount of military training. Those children that receive that military training would be taught discipline and self-control we plan on providing medical and psychiatric support to all children and places that need it the most. For the psychiatric support the children would be given professional school workers of course like teachers and principals. As for the children that would be given military training they would get if from well experienced military officers.

For the reintegration of child soldiers the resources would be given and focused on a local level. Their job would be to focus on reintegrating every former child soldier. The local level will do that by helping the children getting them into schools. As for the regional level would be responsible for getting the resources, supplies, and funding to give to the local level. Our government would provide any needed and available resources for both groups and to also make sure they’re doing their jobs.

Kazakhstan believes that the United Nations should provide and commit as many available resources as possible for the reintegration of former child soldiers. Kazakhstan will help with the full reintegration of all former child soldiers. Getting these children back into schools should be one of our top priorities.

Topic: Reintegrating Former Child Soldiers
Country: Kuwait
Delegate Name: Lauren Rogers
School: Mattawan High School

Kuwait’s delegation recognizes the need for better reintegration of former child soldiers around the world. The use of child soldiers is particularly apparent in Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East, and has turned violent in recent years. As a result, a more significant plan for reintegrating child soldiers is essential for the well-being of the children involved and to the society harboring these children. Kuwait is concerned with the lack of a significant plan and supports the commitment to finding a better child soldier reintegration strategy.

Kuwait has aimed to end the recruitment and use of child soldiers by pledging both funds and diplomatic efforts. As a result, Kuwait strongly believes that a more aggressive approach should be taken to reintegrate child soldiers into society more smoothly. As far as Kuwait’s views on reintegration of child soldiers, they don’t have a national plan of action towards the issue because of the lack of child soldiers from the country. However, because no current measures are in place within Kuwait, they will assist the UN in deciding which strategies to put into action.

The UNICEF committee has many problems to sort out in order to effectively reintegrate former child soldiers into society. Kuwait anticipates being an active participant in assisting UNICEF in choosing the best approach to reintegrate child soldiers and their situation. Child soldiers are facing hardships that can need to be resolved quickly for the welfare of the child soldiers who have been thoroughly mistreated.

Topic: Reintegrating Former Child Soldiers
Country: Libya
Delegate Name: Anusha Mannam
School: Flint Southwestern Classical Academy

Children have often been used as soldiers by countries in times of conflict. Child soldiers are used for numerous reasons such as because they are more obedient, less likely to run away, and children are easier to train. Children are recruited under the notion that they will be given the supplies necessary to survive. After a time of conflict, child soldiers are often reintegrated back into their life prior to joining the army and placed back into their communities. The reintegration of child soldiers is often difficult because children must go through years of psychological training and many times families refuse to take their own children back because of the acts they committed while a soldier.

Under the rule of Muammar Gaddafi, children were recruited to help fight against rebels during the Libyan Civil War; rebels had also recruited children to fight against Libyan forces. Many times children actually want to join the army because it was their only way of survival; by joining the army, children were assured that they would receive the necessities they need to survive. Also some children saw the army as a way to get revenge, on either sides of the war, for the death of a loved one. In the wake of Muammar Gaddafi’s death, we have begun to question whether or not his dictatorship was a just form of leadership.

The Libyan Government is currently working closely with UNICEF to find solutions for stopping the usage and recruitment of child soldiers. Also we would like to begin more programs for the reintegration of child soldiers.

Topic: Reintegrating Former Child Soldiers
Country: New Zealand
Delegate Name: Nikolas Zazula
School: Vicksburg High School

The idea of children serving in a country’s military service is a very controversial topic. In states such as The Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Uganda, children, some no more than seven or eight years of age, are being “recruited” into the armed forces. Children are often kidnapped and abducted, resulting in physical, mental and sexual abuse. This is a traumatizing event for an adult human being, let alone a child. Children who survive conflict and are lucky enough to escape face many issues when attempting to reintegrate themselves into society. In the past, former child soldiers have experienced difficulties processing their experiences and reintegrating within their communities. Many were stigmatized as rebels and failed to make the transition. It is our responsibility, as UNICEF, to recognize that children who have been soldiers need healing from emotional difficulties and traumatic experiences, protection from re-recruitment, training and education in peaceful roles, and a careful reintroduction into their communities. Our actions need to be in the interest of these children, and must be specifically intended to help facilitate their successful establishment of their role in society without fear of stigmatism and rejection.

New Zealand believes that it is the responsibility of The United Nation’s Children's Fund to aid in the reintegration and to provide therapy and treatment to the victims in need. The military use of children is addressed by a number of international legal norms, such as the International human rights law and International humanitarian law. It is our role to uphold these laws, and, to the best of our ability, create a safe environment for all children wherever possible around the world. Through the generous funds received through private donors, to the use of highly-experienced NGOs, we can establish a method of recovery for these children through therapy, rehabilitation and, most of all, acceptance in their community. It is our duty, as the United Nations, to make the world as safe and peaceful as we can for both our own generations, and for the future leaders and contributors of our society.

Topic: Reintegrating Former Child Soldiers
Country: Nigeria
Delegate Name: Meghana Ranabothu
School: Forest Hills Eastern High School

Child soldiers are subjected to harsh training regimens, physical abuse, psychological abuse, and separation from family. The child soldiers often live in communities that lack sufficient medical care facilities and lack treatment for severe mental trauma. The 1990 Conventions on the Rights of the Child has set the minimum recruitment age at 15, most child soldiers are under the age of 10. The practice of child soldiering stems from malnutrition, weak political institutions, and persistent cycles of poverty. Many child soldiers are abducted and beaten into submission, others join military groups to escape poverty, and others join to defend their communities. Children are recruited by armed groups during conflict times. Nigeria’s Child Rights Act (2003) states: “No child shall be recruited into any of the branches of the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.” The problem of child soldiers became regional conflicts, particularly in Africa, where child soldiers are most prevalent.

Nigeria’s government supports reintegrating child soldiers back into society. Organizations in Nigeria facilitate education counseling and public services for child soldiers. Services were implemented into societies in order to successfully reintegrate physically or mentally damaged child veterans. The DRC, United States Agency for International Development, helps reintegrate victims into their communities safely and helps prevent future abduction, trafficking, and sexual violence. The program provides a package of services to victims, including psychological counseling, family tracing and mediation, health assistance, education, skills training, social activities, and economics assistance in Nigeria. UNICEF and its protection partners facilitated the release and temporary care of 2,229 children that were formerly associated with armed forces and groups. UNICEF in collaboration with NGO supported the reintegration of children in Nigeria.

The UNICEF and a number of NGO’s have been working on programs to stop the use of child soldiers and to reintegrate them into safe and secure communities in Nigeria and other countries. In order for a country to successfully implement an integrated education system, reforms and constant efforts should be made to facilitate education to any former child soldiers. Providing free and public education in a national level will be helpful to child soldiers. We encourage UNICEF to fund more programs that will provide services to help former soldiers deal with the effects of war and also provide security against violence. Other countries should work together with UNICEF, DRC, and other organizations that stand ready to help reintegrate child soldiers.

Topic: Reintegrating Former Child Soldiers
Country: North Korea
Delegate Name: Melissa Caren
School: Royal Oak High School

The use of child soldiers, or people under the age of eighteen involved with the armed forces, has sparked much debate throughout the world. Many nations believe it is in the best interest of these soldiers to demobilize and return to the homes they occupied and the lives they lived before enlisting, despite it being in the best interest for the many of them that may have joined to escape the socioeconomic struggles they faced before, or simply to serve their homelands who have given so much to them. While the Democratic People's Republic of Korea believes it is wrongful to militarily recruit children under the age of sixteen, we see nothing wrong with training students at revolutionary schools until they are old enough to enlist in the military at age sixteen.

Many young people join the military looking for food, shelter, and amenities that cannot be provided for them by their parents due to poverty or because they have been orphaned. For reasons like this it can be very beneficial to join up with the armed forces, as means of gaining shelter, security, strength, and even a sense of family for those who have lost their biological ones. But it is important to understand that with the benefits come the risks, and to ensure the safety of peoples under the age of sixteen, the DPRK would like to make it clear that we do not in any way support child soldiering. Siding with nations such as the United Kingdom, the DPRK finds 16-years-old a suitable age for a person to make the decision to enlist in the military, and any nation that disagrees with this can make sure not to implement this policy in their own country, but has no right to challenge any of the 17 sovereign countries that do believe it is a reasonable standard.

Because child soldiering is not supported by the DPRK, instead, institutions such as the Mangyongdae Revolutionary School in Pyongyang are available, which train children in preparation for their services at an appropriate age (16). By making use of schools like this, children that may have otherwise joined the military (before they were ready to) may join schools preparing them for the military instead, giving them more training and allowing them time to mature before entering combat or before performing any dangerous tasks while still allowing them the benefits of joining the armed forces, such as having food and shelter available to them. The DPRK believes that rather than reintegrating child soldiers into the corrupt lives they led before joining the armed forces, it would be more rewarding for them to attend revolutionary schools that will keep them safe and train them for the future.

Topic: Reintegrating Former Child Soldiers
Country: Portugal
Delegate Name: Mitchell Botting
School: Kalamazoo Central High School

Being that 300,000 estimated underage soldiers are currently embroiled in conflict, it is the responsibility of the international community to act, ensuring reintegration takes place. While the release and reintegration into civilian life of many children has been supported through interventions and programs designed to assist them, this is not a common outcome. Most return home on their own, often to face uncertain futures, mental and physical trauma, and a fight for acceptance from their family and community. Children are likely to be stigmatized and even rejected by their community if it is known that they have been used by an armed force or armed group.

Portugal is proud to have ratified the Optional Protocol in August of 2003, as Portugal’s current voluntary recruitment age is 18. Seeing that few countries had ratified the Optional Protocol proposed in the 1990 Conventions on the Rights of the Child, The Paris Commitments and the Paris Principles were drafted. These documents reaffirmed international standards and operational principles for protecting and assisting child soldiers and was jointly sponsored by the French government and UNICEF. These documents were adopted at the ‘Free children from war’ conference in Paris, February 2007, but are not being adequately enforced and implemented.

Having already endorsed the Paris Principles (adopted by United Nations General Assembly Resolution 48/134), Portugal urges other nations to both ratify Optional Protocol and raise international awareness in attempts to aggregate resources, funding, and efforts from humanitarian/emergency organizations. Working closely in conjunction with these entities will quicken the establishment of much needed clinics/centers that can provide immediate medical and psychiatric assistance to children returning from combat, particularly within the African nations in which the problem is greatest. Both the immediate and extended families, the clan, and the community should be actively incorporated in the development and implementation of interventions and positive activities, and their input should be valued, being that individual communities/cultures vary greatly. Continued advocacy to raise awareness of the criminality of recruiting children is crucial to ending this terrible institution, especially toward parents who “volunteer” their children in conflict. Ending child recruitment is an international responsibility, most notably of the major nations that possess the faculties, influence, and resources necessary to combat the issue: The United Kingdom, The United States, France, etc. Open communication with the countries in which child recruitment is taking place is key to facilitating progress.

For progress to be continual, long term humanitarian and development programs must be commissioned. There must be precise and child-centered coordination between civil society, humanitarian/emergency, peacekeeping and development/reconstruction actors. In understanding the fluid nature of most armed conflicts, there is a need to take action for children both before, during, and after active conflict. A strategic response that is both effective across all regions and supported by adequate funding is required urgently once child recruitment is identified as a possibility in any nation. The Delegation of Portugal hopes that all able and willing nations come together to fight this atrocity and pledges its full support.

Topic: Reintegrating Former Child Soldiers
Country: Russia
Delegate Name: Mitchell Plichta
School: Mattawan High School

The use of child soldiers in conflicts has always been an issue of utmost importance. More than fifty nations from all corners of the world have abused the lives of those younger than eighteen years old. Ruthless groups have conducted war crimes such as using these *soldiers* as suicide bombers, human shields, spies, and many more. This has alienated the youngsters, resulting in emotionless machines that do not hesitate to kill. Several policies have been enacted in the United Nations to halt the spread of children used as fighters in times of conflict. For instance, a campaign has been put in place by U.N. special representative Leila Zerrougui referred to as "Children, Not Soldiers" that calls for nations to end the use of child soldiers by 2016. In 2000, the U.N. General Assembly adopted the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in violent conflicts.

Because of the mental and physical transformation of these children, procedures must be taken to assist in adapting the former soldiers into society. Like many other countries, Russia has experienced difficulties with groups utilizing children as soldiers. During the first Chechen war, the forces opposed to Russia employed many as young as eleven years old on the front lines. Reintegration of these soldiers into society has become a major issue in recent years.

Russia recognizes their are a multitude of steps to be put into place so that children can adequately accommodate to normal life. The fighters should be placed into conditions in which they were previously accustomed. If possible, they must be reunited with their families and former communities. Studies illustrate that the placement of children in conditions similar to those which they experienced before fighting as a child soldier is quintessential towards reintegration. The Russian Federation is open to any number of additional steps involving the reintegration of former child soldiers.

Topic: Reintegrating Former Child Soldiers
Country: South Africa
Delegate Name: Olivia Venus
School: Kalamazoo Central High School

In 2013, The United Nations formed a proposal to eradicate child soldiers by 2016, but with an estimated 300,000 under aged soldiers worldwide in 2014, it is clear existing efforts have not been enough, and further action must be taken. In 2007, South Africa signed on to the Paris Principles, along with 58 other nations, but believes these principles are not being enforced enough and the reintegration of child soldiers has been greatly neglected, especially in Africa, since the Principles were signed. Africa is home to almost half of the world’s child soldiers, and South Africa has housed many former child soldiers from our neighboring nations in asylums and rehabilitation centers.

When reintegrating child soldiers, it is important to recognize the need for psychiatric assistance before reintegration into the community and home. Asylums and rehab centers that focus on reestablishing a sense of self and of community, established by UNICEF internationally and in South Africa by the South African government have been able to successfully reintegrate these children into the community, but there are too few of these centers internationally. With collaboration between UNICEF and the nations in which under aged soldiers are present, more of these centers can be established and child soldiers can be abolished worldwide. Centers can be established in neighboring nations, like we have done in South Africa, and at a regional level the children can be moved into the community through adoptions, education, and safe homes within neighboring nations. Centers that simply provide a safe place for these children to stay, considering many of them are orphaned, in poverty, or both, are also a priority. The prevention of these children from affiliating with armed gangs or other similar groups in the future is just as important as tending to their health and safety, an issue we have seen often in other nations, as well as our own.

On the national level, the UN and signers of the Paris Principles can fund the establishment of these centers and see out their success. The use of child soldiers may only be at a regional or national level, but their reintegration and well-being is a worldwide effort, and cannot be ignored.

Topic: Reintegrating Former Child Soldiers
Country: Sudan
Delegate Name: Hugh McDonald
School: Forest Hills Central High School

Child Soldiers have been an issue for a long time and continue to be an issue today. Children are very susceptible to becoming soldiers because because of poverty, pressure from family and peers, and by force. Many of the bloodiest conflicts often involve child soldiers and this particularly a problem in Africa. Conflicts that have seen the use of child soldiers including, but not limited to the Vietnam War, Sierra Leone civil war, and the Ugandan Civil war. Many children that become child soldiers miss out on critical development in their lives and often have no education, when the conflict ends. Many of these children that have no education often go and live a life of poverty. Children have many roles in armies fighting conflicts not just as soldiers, but also as lookouts, spies,Children are also sometimes used as human shields, which has often been seen in the Israeli/Palestinian conflict.

The use child soldiers is illegal under international law, but this is difficult to enforce.

The UN and the international community as a whole have previously attempted to stop child soldiers in multiple ways. In 1990 Convention on the Right of Children sets the age limit to 15 in order to fight in a war. Under Article 8(2)(b)(xxvi) of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC), adopted in July 1998 and entered into force 1 July 2002; "Conscripting or enlisting children under the age of fifteen years into the national armed forces or using them to participate actively in hostilities" is a war crime. Children are also protected from war through the declaration on the protection of women in children. Many UN resolutions can’t be enforced without peacekeepers on the ground and good international observation. Most of the child soldier issues issues have stopped in Sudan, since the breakaway of South Sudan.

Sudan would like the international community to donate money, supplies, and doctors to areas with former child soldiers. Sudan does not want foreign powers in other parts of Africa. Available resources should be put towards bringing in doctors to areas that have the most former child soldiers. . Sudan has recently changed the age of recruitment from 16 to 18. Sudan and the United Nations have worked together with a view of finalizing a draft action plan to end and prevent the recruitment and use of children. Our country has limited resources on what we can do in regards to reintegrating child soldiers. Which why countries like us are requesting help from foreign countries. Building schools around the world to educate child soldiers is very important, so these former child soldiers can lead productive lives and escape poverty.

We expect help from America, but we do not want them to interfere in any countries politics. We would also like help from the Russians, Chinese, and and any other country that would like to get involved. We ask our friends in the Arab league to help out a fellow Arab country and donate money. Sudan would like the African Union to get involved in treating child soldiers inside Africa.

Topic: Reintegrating Former Child Soldiers
Country: Sweden
Delegate Name: Maddie Meyer
School: East Grand Rapids High School

Many children suffer from hunger, disease, malnourishment, abuse, and many other similar issues, but children also suffer from the long-lasting effects of war on their young minds and bodies. Approximately 300,000 children are in combat in about 30 conflicts worldwide, and almost half a million child soldiers serve in armies not at war. Some of these children volunteer because the various armies they are serving bribe them with food and shelter for their starving families. Others join because the army they are fighting against killed one of their family members. But many of these children are abducted and forced to fight. Most children who have participated in conflicts and were forced to kill opposing soldiers or even civilians now suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder. Some feel so guilty about killing the people they were forced to kill, and they say they want to commit suicide. The use of child soldiers has been occurring since before World War II, but we have recently seen a rise in the number of child soldiers used due to the deteriorating social structures around them.

Sweden was one of the first countries to sign the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. They also have a governmental group solely devoted to protecting children’s rights by enforcing The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. They have made many laws, such as children cannot be forced to work and children must get an education, that protect children’s rights and ensure that children are educated and well taken care of. They even give each parent 480 days of paid parental leave per child for children under the age of eight. They believe so strongly in protecting children, they were the first country to pass a law in 1979 that makes beating or spanking children a criminal offence. Sweden also believes that growing, developing children cannot be allowed to fight in conflicts where they will likely be physically and mentally damaged for the rest of their lives. They want to ensure that children’s rights are not only defended in their country, but also worldwide.

There are many proposals to the problem of children being forced to fight, and then not being able to properly reintegrate into society after all they’ve seen and done in combat. One of the most common solutions attempts to eliminate the problem at the root: by stopping the deterioration of social situations, these children wouldn’t be forced to fight for the promise of food. Another common solution is increasing education in the areas where these children live. If they are more educated about the destruction of war, the less likely they will be to volunteer to fight. Some other solutions include improving existing legislation, ensuring the proper prosecution of offenders of the UN law that states children must be at least 18 to fight, establishing shelters for children that have been exposed to war, and simply expanding existing programs.

Sweden believes that children need to be kept with their parents so they can grow and develop in a good environment and get a quality education. The best way to accomplish these goals is to set up shelters for the returning child soldiers where they will learn to reintegrate back into society. Once they have reached a stable mental and physical condition, they can be reunited with their families and/or communities. Sweden knows this is not an ideal situation, but until the use of child soldiers is eliminated, Sweden believes this is the best option.

Topic: Reintegrating Former Child Soldiers
Country: Tunisia
Delegate Name: Alison Pinos
School: Forest Hills Northern High School

Although Africa has a very high percentage of child soldiers, the Republic of Tunisia bans children from participating in the military. Over 300,000 children are soldiers in the world today, and Tunisia doesn’t believe that is right. What is most important for children is a good education; if learning is affected because of militaries, following generations will not be educated enough. If the UN plans on eradicating children soldiers by 2016, other countries are going to need to join together and fight this. But not with kids.

Technically, a person must be 20 years old to join the military. But, if the person’s parents are okay with them joining and if they give the government their consent, they can join at 18 or 19. Anyone under the age of 18 is prohibited from this, though. This is expressed in articles 1 and 27 of the Act of 14 March 1989. In 2013, improvements to the constitution were written which gave children legal protection from the military before 20 years of age, also known as the National Plan of Action to Combat Child Labor.

It is not only important, but vital for former child soldiers to receive the education they need to find jobs. Schooling needs to be accessible to these children, so that they will go. Also, they need to be able to receive medical and psychiatric attention when and if they need it. What is most important for these children is to feel safe after they were forced to join the military; the best way to ensure that this does not happen is to prevent it, but not every country is considering the lives of these children an issue, so making sure that they get what they need after all they have gone through is essential.

Topic: Reintegrating Former Child Soldiers
Country: Turkey
Delegate Name: Kiara Atkins
School: Roeper School

Sadly, child soldiers are a serious problem in the world today. UNICEF has placed the estimate of child soldiers worldwide as 300,000 individuals. The children that are most at risk are those who are living in conflict zones, those who are separated from their families, and those without access to education. Turkey believes that the most effective way to reintegrate child soldiers is to provide them with access to education and economic opportunity as best as possible. An effort should be made to build more quality schools in areas where children are being used in combat, so that these people can have the opportunity to have solid careers and futures.

Furthermore, there should be emphasis placed on reuniting child soldiers with their families. Children who have been separated from their homes are at much greater risk of turning to military efforts in order to provide for themselves. There should also be therapy available in order to try and treat the psychological problems that inevitably arise from serving as a child soldier, with special emphasis on rehabilitation. It will be difficult to make these services available, especially in a widespread way, but appropriate care is critical to the reintegration process, and will help to assure the safety and security of affected communities. Most places affected by conflict with widespread use of child soldiers lack in this area. For example, there is one practicing psychologist in Sierra Leone. We need to work together to provide as much aid to these countries as we are able to.

Topic: Reintegrating Former Child Soldiers
Country: United Kingdom
Delegate Name: Rachel Lissner
School: Grand Blanc High School

While it is extremely important that we take steps to prevent the recruitment of child soldiers, it is of equal importance that we generate programs to deal with the reintegration of former child soldiers. Reintegration is the third step in the UN's Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) program. Children as young as eight years old are forcibly recruited to be child soldiers. These children are too young to resist the adults and do not understand the consequences of what they are doing. Some children even volunteer to be soldiers because they believe it is the only way they can receive regular meals, clothing or medical attention. The typical candidate for recruitment is a child who comes from an impoverished and marginalized background or any child that has been separated from their family. As a part of their recruitment, some children are forced to kill or maim family members. As a result of this, when some children are returned to their community they are ostracized.

The United Kingdom believes that the use of children as soldiers violates the fundamental rights of human beings. Save the Children UK is just one of many groups we have organized to provide food, water, protection, healthcare and education to former child soldiers. In June 2013 the UN set a goal to have no child soldiers anywhere in the world by 2016, our nation is ready to do our part to make this goal a reality. The effects of child soldiership may be permanent but the United Kingdom strongly believes that we must attempt to provide these children with the most normal life possible. Most child soldiers are present in African countries, some used by rebel groups and some by governments. We encourage that all peace agreements contain sections on demobilization and reintegration of the children soldier within the participating countries. Also, we strongly encourage education and vocational opportunities with the hopes that these will prevent former child soldiers from rejoining military units.

Our nation recognizes education, family reunification, psychosocial support, and economic opportunity as the four key components of reintegration. Returning children to their families is very important for creating a "normal" life. Along with education, family reunification helps them form an identity separate from that of soldier. Traditional rituals are also beneficial for creating this new identity. Education teaches right from wrong with the intention of discouraging children from growing up to repeat the violent acts they were taught at a young age. Additionally, the school environment also helps reverse asocialization. Special classes may need to be created for former child soldiers as they will likely be behind other children their age. Psychosocial support must be individually assessed for the most effective outcome. Children must overcome a mistrust for adults, but also forgive themselves. It has been shown that Western trauma interventions are not an effective method and children should instead be placed back into a normal routine. Apprenticeships and enterprise support have proven more effective than traditional vocational training. The need for an income to survive off of must be kept in balance with the child's need for education.

Topic: Reintegrating Former Child Soldiers
Country: United States
Delegate Name: Gregory Poole
School: Forest Hills Northern High School

The story of child soldiers is possible the saddest in the world. It is the story of those recruited at ages 13, 10, 7, or even younger to fight. It is the story of those who are ordered to murder their families, their friends, their communities. It is the story of those who serve as sex slaves. It is the story of those who, even when they are freed, are neglected, forgotten, ignored. Though the mental trauma of their experiences are obvious to the world, no aid is given, no helping hand extended, no guiding light sent.

The United States, though it has no experience with child soldiers in the modern era, has been striving to help solve this international issue. In 2008, the Child Soldiers Prevention Act was passed by the US Congress, which legalized the recruitment by any army of children under 18 years of age. Furthermore, we support the work done by NGO’s such as Child Soldiers International, which works in countries such as Chad and the DRC to prevent the recruitment of these soldiers.

However, recruitment is only half the battle. These children need to be reintegrated into society by three different means: Family reunification, psychological aid, and education opportunities. These children, whenever possible, must be reunited with their families, or with a foster family. They must also be treated psychologically. Studies have shown that psychosocial approaches, which involve their community, tend to be more effective than western approaches. These children must also be given access to educational or economic opportunities: something often neglected for economic reasons. However, in light of their special experiences, this must be provided in order to properly reintegrate these lost souls.