Child Soldiers as the Opposing Force (Des Enfants Soldats Comme Adversaires)
Abstract
Asymmetrical warfare includes armed conflicts in which the conventional armed forces of one party, which uses regular means, is opposed by an unconventional enemy using irregular means. A very sad example of the unconventional enemy is the child warrior. Frontline observations and case studies of mental health problems stemming from confrontations with child warriors indicate a tragic moral dilemma. Dealing with these dilemmas in a morally responsible way is part of the moral professionalism and moral competence military personnel should be trained for. From observations of soldiers of the industrial democracies who face these young combatants it is concluded that children are not seen as hated enemies and soldiers usually exhibit a great amount of empathy toward children in war-torn societies. Consequently, engagements with child soldiers can be incredibly demoralizing for professional troops and can also affect unit cohesion. A literature search has uncovered very little data relating specifically to the psychological impact of child soldiers on armed forces personnel. The findings of this report encompass legal guidelines, cultural awareness as well as military doctrine and tactics. Public perception and media reporting also seem to impact upon how a soldier deals with any child soldier engagement.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2011
- Accession Number
- ADA539989
Entities
Organizations
- NATO Science and Technology Organization