By Yousra Hasona

Child soldiers recruitment is an ongoing phenomenon in diverse parts of the world including the Arab world. Child soldiers’ numbers rose sharply in MENA countries after the Arab Spring 2011. The chart at the side shows the prevalence of child recruitment in Arab spring countries according to the UN reports for children and armed conflicts 2015-2020.

What Are Child Soldiers?

The 2007 Paris Principle for Children who are Associated With an Armed Force or Armed Group which defines them as “Any person below 18 years of age who is or who has been recruited or used by an armed force or armed group in any capacity, including but not limited to children, boys and girls, used as fighters, cooks, porters, messengers, spies or for sexual purposes. It does not only refer to a child who is taking or has taken a direct part in hostilities.”

Why are Children Being Recruited?

1. The need for money and food is an active motivation for children to join the armed groups to support their families.

2. The high poverty and unemployment rates (especially in Libya) have led children as young as seven to carry weapons and fight in the civilian war after 2011.

3. The national duty and the hope for a better future for their country is one of the reasons to push children into participation with armed groups.

4. The ideological influence that is easy to implant in the minds of children, is one of the means that armed groups resort to in order to recruit children.

Where are Children Being Recruited The Most?

1. The Islamic State (ISIS) used religion in both Syria and Iraq, through using its narrow and negative concept of Islam, to attract children to join and fight within its force.

2. Al-Houthis in Yemen had also used religion as a tool to recruit children, by exploiting Qur’an and Hadith to demonize the enemies and push children to fight. 

3. Al-Shabab in Somalia is considered one of the most dangerous armed groups that recruited children.