U.S. Recognizes Child Soldiering as Human Trafficking
January 2, 2025
The United States government has officially recognized child soldiering as a form of human trafficking, according to a new article published on Defense.gov. This landmark decision expands the definition of human trafficking to include the recruitment, use, and exploitation of children in armed conflict.
“Child soldiering is a grave violation of human rights and a global scourge that affects millions of children,” said Secretary of State Antony Blinken. “This new recognition will allow us to better combat this abhorrent practice and provide support to its victims.”
The decision to classify child soldiering as human trafficking is a significant step forward in the fight against this crime, as it will increase resources and coordination to address the issue. The U.S. government will now be able to use its existing anti-human trafficking laws and programs to prosecute traffickers and provide assistance to child soldiers.
“This is a major victory for child rights advocates around the world,” said Jo Becker, advocacy director for the Human Rights Watch Children’s Rights Division. “The U.S. government is now sending a clear message that child soldiering will not be tolerated.”
According to the United Nations, there are an estimated 250,000 child soldiers in the world today, serving in both government and rebel forces. These children are often abducted from their homes or schools and forced to fight, often with little or no training. They are subjected to horrific violence, including sexual abuse, torture, and mutilation.
Child soldiering has a devastating impact on the lives of its victims. Children who are forced to fight often suffer from physical and psychological trauma, including post-traumatic stress disorder and depression. They may also experience social and economic challenges, such as difficulty returning to school or finding work.
The U.S. government’s recognition of child soldiering as human trafficking is a vital step towards ending this practice. By increasing resources and coordination, the government will be better able to prosecute traffickers, provide assistance to victims, and prevent child soldiers from being recruited in the first place.
Additional Information:
- The U.S. government’s decision to classify child soldiering as human trafficking is based on the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA), which defines human trafficking as “the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for labor or services, through the use of force, fraud, or coercion for the purpose of subjection to involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bondage, or slavery.”
- The TVPA has been used to prosecute traffickers involved in a wide range of crimes, including sex trafficking, labor trafficking, and organ trafficking.
- The U.S. government is working with other countries to combat child soldiering. In 2020, the United States and the Democratic Republic of the Congo signed a joint action plan to end the recruitment and use of child soldiers.
- The U.S. government provides funding to organizations that work to prevent child soldiering and help its victims. These organizations provide a variety of services, including education, counseling, and job training.
U.S. Recognizes Child Soldiering as Human Trafficking
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