Navigating Adolescence in Conflict Zones

In a realm where one would expect innocence to be a given, and at a stage wherein one’s existence should be marked with nothing but laughter and the pursuit of knowledge, a dark reality prevails. Consider a world of teenagers, in which textbooks are replaced with the sounds of gunshots and playgrounds are turned into battlefields. The disconcerting recruitment of adolescents into the battlefield not only destroys the serenity of what are supposed to be enchanting teenage years, but also leaves an indelible imprint on their minds. In this look at the psychological impact of the same, we discover the taken innocence, interrupted identities and silent battles of those who find themselves pulled into the unstoppable turmoil of war during their most critical years in terms of the development of their identities.

Before we begin with an exploration into the psychological implications of child recruitment to war, it’s important to first check in with some facts regarding the same. What exactly defines it, and how does this phenomenon unfold? By virtue of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, defining a child as “every human being under 18 years,” enlisting children in armed conflict is an obvious breach of international law, and has been criminalised by domestic, regional and international laws. Although international law clearly prohibits the recruitment of children under fifteen years, the current legislation creates loopholes  for recruiting older children between 15 and 18 years. Although the Convention on the Rights of a Child does not actually prohibit recruiting child soldiers above fifteen years, it encourages states to abstain from recruiting below fifteen and using children under eighteen. The Optional Protocol to the Convention states that conscripting or enlisting children under fifteen and using them in active hostilities is a war crime both in international and non-international armed conflicts.

In the distorted world of wars, the motives behind such recruitment are multi-layered. Picture this: Through the arrival of light weapons and small arms, a dark era of history was ushered in, where children could be included in warfare. Why? First of all, there was a demographic revolution in our world that left many children without parental care and thus subject to recruitment. The young minds were such a powerful combination of resilience, fearlessness and survival instincts that commanders, especially in African regions, found them both an asset and, unfortunately, easy targets for manipulation. However, it doesn't end there. The sad truth is that children are easier to maintain in the ruthless world of warfare, with fewer resources and smaller weapons. A life of poverty, hunger, joblessness and persecution creates a situation where the only way out appears to be becoming a fighter for these young souls. Their pliability not only makes them recruitment targets, but also makes them easier to retain in the ranks. It truly is a painful truth, where childhood innocence is cruelly sacrificed  to the altar of war.

As most readers have probably experienced, in the panorama of human development, adolescence stands as a distinct chapter of life in which identity is sought, explorations are made and everlasting memories are created. At this crucial point in their lives, people learn how to operate in the world of education, build strong friendships and discover their true selves. The recruitment of these children into the nightmarish environment of war brutally rips apart the threads of their innocence and well being. The stolen innocence is not a mere metaphor, but is an unsparing truth.

Think of the bonds that hold us, friends and kinship —laughter shared, the warmth of family gatherings.  The fate of having to serve as a young soldier shreds through them ruthlessly, leaving those sucked into its whirlwind lonesome and disconnected. It doesn’t end there on the battlefield, and it remains so for these individuals to readjust again to a world that had not been subjected to the same horrors.

Switching gears, imagine empty desks and silent classrooms. Premature recruitment does not only take lives, it takes away the opportunity to learn, depriving young minds of their well-deserved education. The effects are not limited to the individuals; they spread, capturing entire communities in an endless cycle of poverty and unease. As the world makes progress, these young souls are left in the dark, denied the full benefits of education and are condemned to a perpetual darkness that is greater than any war.

As we draw this discussion to a close, let us then look at the coping mechanisms that adolescents employ when forced into the uncompromising reality of army recruitment, demonstrating their tenacity in overcoming the challenges. In this chaotic background, these young minds learn to tread the darkness only because they have no choice. They build coping habits as an armour against the onslaught of trauma, taking comfort in the small acts of living. They range from the formation of close relationships with fellow kindred spirits to the plunge into the depths of their own minds. Though these coping mechanisms do provide temporary solace, their aftereffects endure like shadows upon the soul-seen and unseen. It is a testament to the strength of the human spirit even in the midst of some of the most unnatural, inhumane situations, and also to the fact that there is that little glimmer of hope left even when lives have been turned upside down.

References 
D’Alessandra, F. (2014). The Psychological Consequences of Becoming a Child Soldiers: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Major Depression, and Other Forms of Impairment.
Dickson‐Gõmez, J. (2002). Growing up in guerrilla camp: The long‐term impact of being a child soldier in El Salvador's civil war. Ethos, 30(4), 327-356.
Andvig, J. C., & Gates, S. (2010). Recruiting children for armed conflict. Child soldiers in the age of fractured states, 77, 92.

About the author 
Saniya Kolwalkar, a first-year student pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in applied psychology, serves as the creative mind behind this blog. Her remarkable talent for staying organized and her unwavering commitment to her goals define her character. In addition to her academic pursuits, Saniya thrives on other passions. She's an avid reader with an insatiable appetite for literature, often immersing herself in the pages of books. When not engrossed in the realms of psychology or literature, she's busy in the kitchen, passionately crafting delicious baked treats. Saniya embodies the spirit of a modern-day Rory Gilmore, always eager to explore new horizons and establish meaningful connections. Her motivation for this blog is clear- to produce content she can take pride in and, in doing so, touch the lives of her readers, no matter how subtly.