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Should Child Soldiers Be Responsible For War Crimes

652 Words3 Pages

I am an eighth grade student at Sherwood Middle School, in Sherwood, Oregon. My language arts class is trying to decide whether or not child soldiers should receive amnesty. I believe that child soldiers who have committed war crimes should not be given amnesty by the United Nations. For one thing, not punishing these adolescents can have negative effects. It can influence the use of more child soldiers and not give justice to their victims. Although it may be true that some minors are forcefully drafted. Many children volunteer to become soldiers in wartime. In general, if a child can be convicted of crime, such as murder, then they should also be held responsible for crimes committed in war. The crimes they committed during war are just …show more content…

For instance, “ allowing child soldiers immunity from prosecution denies victims justice” (Child Soldiers, Prosecution, 12). Victims of crimes that have been committed want justice for what has happened. In addition, commanders can be influenced to use juveniles for war crimes because there would be no punishment (Child Soldiers, Prosecution, 18). If child soldiers aren't prosecuted then their commanders will continue to use minors because there would be no consequences for their actions. Not having consequences for war crimes committed by child soldiers will have bad outcomes.
It could be said that they are forcefully drafted. Most of the child soldiers are purchased, kidnapped or terrorized into joining a country’s army (Gettleman, 7). Many children are forced into fighting. On the other hand, “many children volunteer to become soldiers in wartime out of patriotism or a desire to avenge the death of their families (Child Soldiers, Prosecution, 11). If they have volunteered to be a soldier, or even if they hadn't, they still chose to kill and should be held responsible for their wrong actions. Though some children are forced to enrol to fight, the chose to commit the

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