Child soldiers in Liberia
[6] The 1989 United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child condemned the recruitment and direct involvement of persons aged fifteen years and younger in armed conflict, per Article 38.
[3] The term "child soldier" was defined by UNICEF in 2005 as any male or female person younger than 18 years of age who participates in the activities of any armed forces or groups in any capacity.
[10][5] Former child soldiers often suffer from high levels of psychosocial trauma, resulting in post-traumatic stress and major depressive disorder, risks of suicide, all of which are higher among children who experienced sexual violence.
[4] Family, friends, and relatives are all social support networks deemed essential to combating the impact of psychological trauma, and promote a healthy re-transition into society.
[4] Financial support existed in the forms of paid tuition, registration fees, books and supplies, uniforms, and subsistence allowances given to children who maintained at least 75% attendance during their time in the program.
[11][4] Skill acquisition training usually lasted between six and nine months, and during this time children were instructed in profession such as baking, carpentry, shoe-making, mechanics, and agriculture, and also given subsistence allowances if they maintained 75% attendance.
[4] Family reunification, educational support, and skill acquisition were all regarded as elements of psychological rehabilitation because they were meant to reinforce positive socialization and constructs of new identities independent of war.
[4][8] These ceremonies centered around the belief that children who underwent them would be forgiven by the gods of the land, and this perceived forgiveness would bolster their acceptance back into their communities and foster a degree of self-forgiveness.
[13] A further addition to the Cotonou Accords, the Akosombo Agreement signed September 12, 1994, calls for the creation of encampment centers during demobilization to support the education, rehabilitation, and reintegration of former soldiers.
[14] The Children's Law reiterates the provisions of the original 1989 United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, and established the recruitment or enlisting in armed forces to take part in conflict as a first degree felony.
