In conflicts throughout the world “two million [child soldiers] have been killed, over one million orphaned, over six million have been left seriously injured or permanently disabled and over 10 million have been diagnosed with psychological trauma” over just the past ten years (Invisible Children). Not everyone will be familiar with the issue of the use of child soldiers in wars across the world. Universally, child soldiers are generally frowned upon for use in combat for being inhumane and barbarous. Especially in third world countries, child soldiers are used for conflicts extensively. They are known for committing some of the most brutal acts in wartime in countries like Sierra Leone, Sudan, Afghanistan, etc. Therefore, many government officials in the United States of America view child soldiers as
Despite the fact that some people believe child soldiers are replicas or replicate child criminals, child soldiers should be given amnesty because they aren't morally responsible for their actions, they are forced into fighting, and the goal should be to rehabilitate the child soldiers and not to punish them.
First of all, child soldiers should not be held accountable for their actions during wartime. While it is well known that children make imperfect decisions all the time, there is a scientific reasoning to this phenomena. Studies show that “the section of the brain known as the frontal lobes controls decision making and only fully develops well into your 20's. Children simply lack the ability to think of the long-term consequences of their actions” (Invisible Children). While if it is something as simple as stealing a cookie from the cookie jar or joining the army, these children should not be prosecuted for these