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The latest newsletter of the Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers
focuses on why children volunteer to participate in armed conflict. In many
of today's conflicts, adolescents represent the majority of children who
fight or are associated with armed forces and groups. However, they are
often ineligible for demobilisation programs for child soldiers as they
become adults in the ranks of armed groups, missing the opportunity for
rehabilitation and reintegration into a peaceful community.
As greater and greater portions of the Gross Domestic Product of countries
go to war efforts, less and less of the public budget is allocated to
education or health. For an increasing number of youngsters, there is no
other school than a military training camp and the only way for them and
their families to thrive or to be safe is to be associated with armed
groups.
The demobilisation and reintegration of girl adolescents who have been
associated with armed forces and groups represent a huge problem. In many
situations, the percentage of girls who go through DDR programs is
negligible compared to boys. One reason is that many military commanders do
not consider their young "wives" as soldiers, and therefore, do not allow
them to be demobilised. Many girls who have been made "wives" and mothers
may also fear stigmatisation by their communities of origin and do not to
want to be demobilised and reintegrated in their communities.
The full edition of the newsletter is available on the website of the
Coalition.
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