All articles

Sat

Jan

2024

Elective Military Corps Programs in Schools Should Not Be Forced Upon Minority and Low-income Students

Submitted by nnomy

Wed

Oct

Stop recruitment of 16 year olds into the UK armed forces

Submitted by hannah on Wed, 22/10/2014 - 15:27

We call on the UK Government to stop its policy of allowing 15 year olds to apply and 16 and 17 year olds to be recruited into the Armed Forces. The recruitment and targeting of young people and vulnerable groups has been criticised by the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child. 2014 is the year to end this policy.

Why is this important?

What better way to commit our country to peace during the commemoration of World War One and remember the hundreds of thousands who died from the UK alone, including boy soldiers like Rifleman V J Strudwick who was killed at 15? Why is it that in 2014 the UK is the only country in Europe - and the only country among the permanent members of the UN Security Council - to recruit 16 year olds into its armed forces?

Tue

Oct

No draft, but not signing up can be hurdle

Submitted by hannah on Tue, 21/10/2014 - 09:46

The last time Danieldevel Davis got out of prison it was 2012 and he was 38.

He'd been locked up for six years, which was the longest he'd ever lived in one place. Davis grew up in foster homes, dropped out of school in the 11th grade, and then hit the revolving door: streets, juvenile detention, streets, prison. He's never possessed a driver's license. He's never had a bill in his name.

"I've never had anything in my name," he says.

So, this is what happened when Davis went to fill out his financial aid paperwork at a Virginia Beach technical college.

"Have you registered for the Selective Service?" the financial aid officer asked.

"What do you mean?" Davis said.

"Did you register to be drafted?"

"Huh?"

Mon

Oct

Studies explore effects of war on former child soldiers

Submitted by Gary on Mon, 20/10/2014 - 02:03

Young soldiers from a Ugandan supported Congolese rebel movement group, sing liberation songs waving their rifles in this photo in the north eastern Congolese town of Bunia. (AP Photo/Karel Prinsloo)

Society for Research in Child Development

Despite international bans, more than 250,000 children fight as soldiers in 86 countries across the globe, almost half of them in Africa. Two new studies explored how these children adjust after they return to their homes. Key to successful adaptation, the studies found, was the characteristics of the communities to which the children returned.

Mon

Oct

Why is the U.S. Military Pushing K-12 Students to Build Drones in Dayton?

Submitted by Gary on Mon, 20/10/2014 - 00:13

By: Seth Kershner

As a journalist and researcher, I’ve spent the last several years investigating the expanding network of links between public education and the U.S. military. With my colleague Scott Harding, I’ve also been researching the grassroots response to this phenomenon: the counter-recruitment movement.

Fri

Oct

Moving towards a world without child soldiers

Submitted by hannah on Fri, 17/10/2014 - 11:31

By: The Dallaire Initiative

In 2007, the international community moved boldly forward towards envisioning a world without child soldiers and children affected by armed conflict. Today, the Paris Principles and Commitments represent one of the strongest international agreements on the issue of children associated with armed conflict, with over 100 member states agreeing to implement its guidelines and measures.

“The Paris Principles and Commitments are integral documents that underpin and build the political commitment and preventative efforts to end the use of children as weapons of war,” states Dr. Shelly Whitman, Executive Director of the Roméo Dallaire Child Soldiers Initiative (the Dallaire Initiative).

Thu

Oct

Israeli Defence Forces in schools

Submitted by hannah on Thu, 16/10/2014 - 12:03

On Monday, the Israeli Defence Forces conducted a defence drill in schools across the country, and uploaded a photo to their Facebook page showing a female soldier instructing school children. The message accompanying the photo (pictured) read: "When I enter the classroom, I know I am preparing tomorrow's citizens for the next war". The photo seemed to spark a debate on Facebook with some users questioning the phrase "the next war". The IDF has since spoken about it saying: "The photo does not try to promote the IDF in schools but to provide safety instructions."

Source: BBC Trending

Wed

Oct

‘North Darfur tribal leaders agree to end use of child soldiers’: Unamid

Submitted by hannah on Wed, 15/10/2014 - 11:48

EL FASHER (13 Oct.) -

Unamid has welcomed a community-based strategic plan to end the use of children as fighters in inter and intra ethnic clashes.

The plan, initiated by Sheikh Musa Hilal, was endorsed by leaders from the Abbala, Beni Hussein, Fur, Tamma, Gimir and Awlad Janoub tribes in Kabkabiya, El Sareif Beni Hussein, Saraf Umra localities, and the areas of El Waha and Jebel Si in North Darfur, Unamid announced in a press release issued on Monday.

On 26 July last year, Hilal had already issued an order to the North Darfuri communities under his leadership to prohibit the use of children as combatants. Apart from the recruitment of minors, the former Janjaweed leader condemned sexual violence against children, the abduction and maiming of children, and attacks against schools and hospitals. He assured his full commitment and adherence to international norms and standards protecting children in situations of armed conflict.

Tue

Oct

North Korea to conscript women for 7 years

Submitted by hannah on Tue, 14/10/2014 - 16:12

North Korean women aged 17 and over will face seven years’ military conscription, starting in January, sources said over the weekend.

According to revised military service laws to be announced soon, military service for males will be increased from 10 years to 11 years. The state originally considered increasing the period to 13 years but, taking into account the measure’s overall failure in the mid-1990s, decided instead to conscript women.

The North is struggling to keep up the numbers in its military forces, which have totaled more than 1.2 million.

A shortage of males born in the mid-1990s reflects the nationwide famine during which about 330,000 children died.

Source: The Korea Times

Tue

Oct

Making Militarism Visible: slideshow

Submitted by hannah on Tue, 14/10/2014 - 14:22

This powerpoint presentation is a version of an exhibition, built by New Profile, which highlights the everyday militarism of Israeli society. The exhibition is also available in Arabic and French. You can download the powerpoint here.

Mon

Oct

Caught in the Crossfire: Child Soldiers in South Sudan Have Few Alternatives

Submitted by hannah on Mon, 13/10/2014 - 13:00

In South Sudan, as in many parts of the world engulfed in conflict, youth are growing up in communities that have been torn apart by war. The film The Good Lie, which tells the story of the lost boys and girls of Sudan, vividly portrays their struggles during the Second Sudanese Civil War (1983-2005). Throughout the war, children were actively conscripted, both voluntarily and by force, into the national army and other armed groups. That legacy of recruiting child soldiers has continued into today’s conflict in South Sudan.

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Countering Military Recruitment

WRI's new booklet, Countering Military Recruitment: Learning the lessons of counter-recruitment campaigns internationally, is out now. The booklet includes examples of campaigning against youth militarisation across different countries with the contribution of grassroot activists.

You can order a paperback version here.