I was a child soldier – here’s what it’ll take to protect young lives in conflict zones

By Charles Wratto, Associate Professor of Peace, Politics, and Conflict Studies, Babes Bolyai University

The use of child soldiers is a profound human tragedy that continues to scar generations across the world.

According to the United Nations, over the years, thousands of children, some as young as six years old, have been manipulated, indoctrinated and coerced into joining armed groups.

Many of these children have fought against peacekeeping troops in Liberia, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, the Democratic Republic of Congo and US-led coalition soldiers in Afghanistan, Iraq and Somalia.…

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