Abstract
Despite global recognition of the issue, international organizations continue to fall short in implementing concrete and coordinated actions for the rehabilitation of child soldiers. The lack of targeted resources and programs is alarming, as the absence of effective intervention could escalate the threat of terrorism soon. This article emphasizes the urgent need for the international community to take serious action to prevent untreated and unintegrated children from becoming tomorrow’s terrorists.
1) Toward an expanded definition of the child soldier
a) The current definition of a child soldier
Under the Optional Protocol to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UN, 2000), a child soldier is defined as "any person under 18 years of age who is recruited or used by armed forces or armed groups in any capacity, including but not limited to children used as fighters, cooks, porters, messengers, and for sexual purposes." This definition primarily focuses on children recruited by armed groups involved in interstate or internal conflicts, aiming to protect minors from military exploitation and combat their forced participation in hostilities.
However, this definition remains centered on conventional conflict-based armed groups, overlooking the increasing number of children involved in terrorist structures and criminal clans. In a context where war, terrorism, and crime are increasingly intertwined, the exploitation of children by terrorist organizations and criminal cartels warrants recognition for its resemblance to traditional child soldiering. Currently, children involved with these entities are often left outside the protections granted to child soldiers, despite facing similar brutal conditions and deprivation.
b) Children in terrorist and criminal structures: equivalent to child soldiers
The exploitation of children by terrorist and criminal groups involves indoctrination processes, violence training, and dehumanization like those used in the recruitment of child soldiers. These children are exposed to extreme violence, trained to kill, handle weapons, commit terrorist acts, and participate in trafficking (drugs, arms, human beings). This exploitation is not merely a matter of forced labor; it extends to intense psychological manipulation, creating unwavering loyalty and transforming these children into active agents of violence.
For instance, terrorist groups often exploit children for suicide bombings, intelligence, and logistics, forcing them to commit murder by exploiting their psychological and emotional vulnerability. Cartels and criminal clans use them to transport and distribute drugs, collect funds, and even carry out targeted killings, as seen recently in France.
c) Exclusion consequences: Impacts on child protection and international security
The absence of recognition for children associated with terrorist and criminal clans in the definition of a child soldier has serious consequences for their protection and international security. Without victim status because of warfare or armed conflict, they lack the protections and resources allocated to child soldiers. This neglect fuels a cycle of violence in which untreated and unintegrated children risk becoming tomorrow’s criminals or terrorists.
At a global security level, ignoring this reality poses increasing risks to both the West and the affected countries. Children exposed to indoctrination and extreme violence at a young age are prone to perpetuating violence as adults, with a potential for transnational radicalization and the spread of violence to more stable countries.
d) The need to broaden the definition of child soldier: toward a universal protection and rehabilitation approach
Expanding the definition of a child soldier to include children involved in terrorist and criminal structures would allow the international community to:
Harmonize child protection: A broader definition would grant children recruited by terrorist or criminal structures the same legal protections and support as traditional child soldiers. This includes mental health services, educational programs, and tailored reintegration initiatives.
Enhance rehabilitation programs: Recognizing their victim status would allow children associated with terrorist or criminal organizations to be reintegrated into their communities, benefiting from deradicalization, psychological support, and personal development programs, thereby reducing the risks of relapse and societal harm.
Ensure consistency in Iiternational efforts: Adopting an expanded definition would enable states and international organizations to take a more integrated approach to modern threats. Bodies such as the UN, WHO, and NGOs could thus coordinate rehabilitation actions for all children affected by organized violence, whether military, terrorist, or criminal.
2) Children in organized violence – A failure of international protection
The growing involvement of children in violent conflicts and terrorist networks calls for concrete responses, but the actions of major organizations remain insufficient. Although resolutions have been adopted by the UN and other agencies, very few effective rehabilitation programs exist on the ground. In the face of this lack of initiative, thousands of children continue to be recruited, indoctrinated, and left with no hope of reintegration.
3) Unaddressed trauma: A catalyst for future violence
Children involved in military, terrorist, or criminal activities are exposed to deep trauma, including physical violence, sexual abuse, and indoctrination. Yet, few concrete actions are being taken to address these traumas in a rehabilitative context. The absence of care leaves these children in a psychologically fragile state, often with antisocial behaviors and an increased tendency to replicate violence. In the long term, this neglect raises the likelihood that they will become agents of extreme violence.
4) The international follow-up gap: A growing risk to global security
While international organizations theoretically acknowledge the need for care, they struggle to invest proactively. Several factors contribute to this inertia:
Legal complexity: Many countries lack specific legislation to address the issue of children involved in terrorist groups or mafias.
Funding shortages: Rehabilitation projects, though essential, are often underfunded, severely limiting reintegration efforts.
Coordination shortfalls: There is no systematic coordination to rehabilitate these children internationally, and responsibility for their welfare is too often delegated to their countries of origin, which themselves lack resources.
5) The future of terrorist threats: The impact of inaction
The consequences of international neglect will soon be felt, not only in these children’s countries of origin but also in the West. The rise of global terrorism is directly fueled by these abandoned children, who later become vulnerable to violence and radicalization. Today’s child soldiers in conflict zones could, without intervention, become the recruits and potential leaders of extremist groups operating globally.
Moreover, the West, far from being immune, may experience an export of this violence through online radicalization. Terrorism could thus spread rapidly, with an increased risk of attacks, ideological assaults, and targeted indoctrination of younger generations in stable countries.
6) Why rehabilitation programs are essential for global security
Rehabilitation initiatives could serve as a critical safeguard against escalating violence. International organizations should:
Implement mental health protocols to address the severe trauma experienced by these children, including innovative therapies such as art therapy and community-based approaches.
Invest in education and vocational training to provide solid alternatives for former child soldiers and children involved in terrorism. Specific programs can equip them with tools for peaceful reintegration.
Develop global deradicalization and reintegration programs, including families and communities, to prevent the stigmatization and exclusion that fuel the cycle of violence.
7) The role of international Organizations: Toward immediate and coordinated action
If the UN, WHO, and other international institutions do not take immediate action, the number of these young people will continue to grow. Integrative health could be used to combine therapeutic care and art therapy initiatives while working with local communities to prevent mass radicalization. However, this requires support structures and the commitment of member states for sustainable funding and coordinated action.
Conclusion
Child soldiers, children of terrorism, and children of the mafia, neglected by international organizations, constitute a genuine time bomb for global security. Failing to care for these children today could lead to an unprecedented cycle of violence and terrorism, particularly in the West, soon. Breaking this cycle requires comprehensive rehabilitation and reintegration into their communities with global political and financial support. The international community must act now to reverse this trend by developing integrated strategies and investing in these children’s futures to prevent them from becoming tomorrow’s terrorists.
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