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Essay On Psychological Effects On Child Soldiers

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Looking out across the war-torn landscape there is only sadness, loss and death to stare back. Explosions jar the senses, the shock of it defining to the ears. The smell of smoke drifts across the field, carrying with it the cries and screams of the fight. So much suffering, pain and trauma are palpable in the air. In the midst of the chaos, stands a child, silently holding an automatic weapon, nearly as large they are*. Scenes such as these are difficult to erase from one’s memory. There is an old saying that one must walk a mile in someone’s shoes to even begin to empathize and understand their life. However, no amount of walking would make it easier to grasp the horror that child soldiers are witness to. In countries and wars all over the world, kids are being forced to fight in battles that are not even theirs. No matter how much war may be glorified by some cultures, there are incredibly negative side effects on those who survive it. The exposure to violence has a traumatizing psychological impact on child soldiers, which can be witnessed in their lives, relationships and development. …show more content…

Some work as cooks, spies, and can even be used to transport supplies. In the worst cases, children can even be used as sex slaves or even suicide bombers. However, all are put in the position to be exposed to violence.* Young boys and girls alike are being forcefully taken away from their lives to serve in the army. Even if they are not directly involved in armed conflict, many times they can witness acts of atrocity within day to day life at a military

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