Child Soldiers

The number of children associated with armed forces and groups has not been updated in many years. In fact, international organizations affirm that the number has been decreasing and that today there are fewer than 300,000 child soldiers in the world. Nevertheless, over the past two decades, images of boys (mostly) carrying weapons such as AK-47 rifles continue to inundate not only the academic debates but also the humanitarian reports, popular media, film, and fictional literature. Usually identified as victims of extreme adult abuse or extreme perpetrators of violence, very little is still discussed about the child behind the gun and how he (or she) became so threatening with a weapon.

This entry engages the reader in the discussion about children who live their lives in ...