When is it okay to use child soldiers?

Well, as I get older, my definition of “child” gets older, but if you are talking about somebody younger than say 19, I don't believe it is ever okay. For one, in general, they are less and less physically capable the younger they are,Mandy so are at a disadvantage. For another, it just feels wrong. Kids should get to be kids. read more

Another user answered it pretty well—it’s only ok to use child soldiers when the alternative to having child combatants is that they are certain to suffer a fate worse than the risks they would face in combat, which must be pretty damn dire. read more

Child soldiers are any children under the age of 18 who are recruited by a state or non-state armed group and used as fighters, cooks, suicide bombers, human shields, messengers, spies, or for sexual purposes. In the last 15 years, the use of child soldiers has spread to almost every region of the world and every armed conflict. read more

Indeed the word 'infantry', for foot-soldiers, can also mean a group of young people. What is frightening nowadays is the escalation in the use of children as fighters. Recently, in 25 countries, thousands of children under the age of 16 have fought in wars. 8 In 1988 alone, they numbered as many as 200,000. read more