Time line (in order) of events that have had a major impact on children soldiers.
Young boy in war.
1984: In Uganda wars have gotten worst in the past 20 years. The LRA has abducted around 30,000 children from local tribes and villages to serve as children soldiers.
1985: UN states that child soldiers are a form of child labor. The UN decided to label it as child labor because there are already laws for child labor
1990: African Charter on the rights and welfare of children is adopted by the organization of African Unity. (Doesn’t happen until 1999)
1993: The age of when you are technically allowed to be a soldier was raised to the age of 18.
1985: UN states that child soldiers are a form of child labor. The UN decided to label it as child labor because there are already laws for child labor
1990: African Charter on the rights and welfare of children is adopted by the organization of African Unity. (Doesn’t happen until 1999)
1993: The age of when you are technically allowed to be a soldier was raised to the age of 18.
These children think war is there life.
1994: UN declares an end to child soldiers. Conflicts in Africa began to build up and the use of child soldiers was spreading all over the continent. The UN had to do something about it, so they made up a campaign to end the use of child soldiers as a way to try to combat the use of the child soldiers in Africa at the time.
1994: The UN needed more facts and information on the use of children in conflict.
1994: UN declares that Graca Machel to find more information about the subject.
1996: UN appoints a new SRCA (Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict.)
1994: The UN needed more facts and information on the use of children in conflict.
1994: UN declares that Graca Machel to find more information about the subject.
1996: UN appoints a new SRCA (Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict.)
Military training area.
1998: It is declared that if there is a child under the age of 15 that is a soldier, it is a direct crime and will have a punishment.
1999: UN passes resolution 1261 which states that (child soldiers are a threat to international security.) They had to categorize it as something more serious than an extreme form of child labor. So the UN labeled it as a threat to international security.
2001: UN wants to punish countries that have child soldiers so UN passes resolution 1379 which says that it is okay to punish African countries that had child soldiers (the UN would support them.)
2002: Security Council decided they would decide the actions that would be taken against these offending countries, if they decided to do anything at all.
1999: UN passes resolution 1261 which states that (child soldiers are a threat to international security.) They had to categorize it as something more serious than an extreme form of child labor. So the UN labeled it as a threat to international security.
2001: UN wants to punish countries that have child soldiers so UN passes resolution 1379 which says that it is okay to punish African countries that had child soldiers (the UN would support them.)
2002: Security Council decided they would decide the actions that would be taken against these offending countries, if they decided to do anything at all.
The wars aren't a game, the children get hurt.
2003: UN passes resolution 1460, which says that all offending countries should provide information on how they are taking steps to reduce amounts of children soldiers.
2004: UN passes resolution 1539 which states that if a nation refuses to comply with resolution 1460 then sanctions would be used to make them comply. Some African nations were not complying with the UN, so they used resolution 1539 as a threat. If African countries did not give the information and facts that the UN needed, then they would start to take away their supply of oil or guns, to make them comply.
2005: The UN needed to put a system into place that would keep the offending nations in check so they would not be tempted to return to their old ways. (Resolution 1612)
2006: UN creates an independent review system.
2004: UN passes resolution 1539 which states that if a nation refuses to comply with resolution 1460 then sanctions would be used to make them comply. Some African nations were not complying with the UN, so they used resolution 1539 as a threat. If African countries did not give the information and facts that the UN needed, then they would start to take away their supply of oil or guns, to make them comply.
2005: The UN needed to put a system into place that would keep the offending nations in check so they would not be tempted to return to their old ways. (Resolution 1612)
2006: UN creates an independent review system.