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During Sierra Leone's recent civil war thousands of children-some less than 10 years old-- were forced into combat. One rebel group involved in the conflict admitted that 30% of its soldiers were children. These child soldiers witnessed, and committed, acts of atrocity, they were often turned into vicious killing machines by manipulative warlords who used drugs, alcohol and fear to keep them in their ranks. Now de-mobilized, these child veterans remain traumatized by war. Eric Beauchemin for Radio Netherlands brings us their stories.
Innocence Lost was produced by Eric
Beauchemin for Radio
Netherlands, the Dutch World Service.
Technical assistance
was by Ronald Hoffman. This program
airs as part of the
international documentary exchange
series Crossing
Boundaries.
Links:
War-Affected Children
An Online supplemental discussion to Graca Machel's book.
UNICEF
Crisis in Sierra Leone could bring new efforts to recruit children
Child Soldier
Read personal accounts and listen to audio clips from youth in Sierra Leone.
U.S. Campaign to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers
Join in the fight against minors in the military.
Books:
 Easy Prey:Child Soldiers in Liberia
By The Human Rights Watch Africa Staff and Children's Rights Project Staff
The history of youth in the military in Liberia.
 Child Soldiers: The Role of Children in Armed Conflict
By Guy S. Goodwin-Gill
The international status of child soldiers.
 Underneath of Things: Violence, History, and the Everyday in Sierra Leone
By Mariane C. Ferme
The legacy and culture of Sierra Leone.
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