What Should Be Done

Bolivian Child SoldiersBy Hannah, Ava, Mary and EllisPartner: Michael Zaluzny

Bolivia CountryAn Intro to Bolivian Child SoldiersBy Ava GallagherINTRODUCTIONAccording to the Bolivian Constitution, all Bolivians have an obligation to join the military. The minimum age for military service is 18 years old, and the required period to serve is one year. However, children under the age of 18 have been turned into soldiers against their will, and continue to die as child soldiers. A child soldier is a form of human trafficking and slavery, and even though organizations (such as the NGO Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers) are fighting to save these child soldiers, they continue to be illegally forced into the military. Bolivian Children

BACKGROUNDThe legal age to serve the military in Bolivia is 18Everyone is required to serve in the military for at least one yearAlthough military recruitment is illegal under the age of 18, children make up almost half of the armed forces

Bolivian SoldiersTHE 40%Although the legal age is 18, soldiers under the age of 18 constitute 40% of the armed forces

Half of this 40% that are under 18 are also under 16, meaning 20% of the armed forces in Bolivia are under 16

Poor children are a more popular target for recruitment to become a child soldier

Recruiters looking for child soldiers:Break into homes of children and familiesTake over schools

CURRENT GOVERNMENT ROLEBolivian government is majorly responsible for the illegal placement of children in the militaryAlthough it is their rule that one must be eighteen to join, they support and encourage child soldiersAny possible help from government is unlikelyHelp from outside of Bolivia is what is most needed to stop child soldiers

Bolivian CapitalPresent IssuesBy Ellis EvansPresent ProblemsThere are no laws against children in armed combatThe UN Committee on the Rights of the Child found that children between the ages of 14 and 17 were doing service (in 2004)Law-enforcement harassed children and subjected them to violence Children under 18 were drafted/ enrolled illegally in an anti-narcotic operation Almost half of Bolivia's army is under 1818 is the minimum age for serving in the military but required/ compulsory recruitment does not have an age limitRecent Wars/ Conflicts in BoliviaGas wars (2003)A very poor country with a bunch of natural resources that gets exploited from by big industries that are foreignThe citizens protested/ built blockadesCaused a shortage of gas and food, ect.

Child Soldiershttp://images.travelpod.comRecognizing Using Children as Soldiers is BadRome Statute of the International Criminal Court Says recruiting children to fight is a crime against humanity

International Labour Organizations Convention No. 182The worst kind of child labor is children being used for soldiers

The Rights and Welfare of the Child (African Charter)Outlaws using children as soldiers

Convention on the Rights of the ChildThe minimum age children can be used in armed combat is 18

This is on an international scale, so it should apply to every country, including Bolivia

Why This Needs To StopInnocent children witness and experienceKillingsDeathsSexual violenceBeing obedient (so they can survive)Sometimes they are forced to kill other children or family members so they are no longer welcome at homeCan be given drugs to make them unafraid to fight

NO CHILD SHOULD HAVE TO EXPERIENCE THIS!

STATISTICSBy Mary Merril122004Republic of BoliviaCovers the period from April 2001 to March 2004.Population-8.6 million (3.9 million under 18)Government armed forces-31,500Compulsory recruitment age-18Voluntary recruitment age-15 (for premilitary service)1Voting age-18 (married) 21 (single)Optional Protocol-not signedOther treaties ratified(see glossary)-CRC, GC AP I and II, ICC, ILO 138, ILO 182

In 2004 the voluntary recruitment age was 15 and amount of government armed forces decreased by 1,000.

Mary Merrill2001Population:total: 8,142,000under-18s: 3,763,000Government armed forces:active: 32,500paramilitary: 37,100Compulsory recruitment age: 18Voluntary recruitment age: unknownVoting age (government elections): 18 (married), 21 (single)Child soldiers: indicated40 per cent of armed forces are under 18; half of these may be under 16CRC-OP-CAC: not signedOther treaties ratified: CRC; GC/API+II; ILO 138Almost half of Bolivia's armed forces are under 18, including some children as young as 14. Poor adolescents are targeted for conscription.

In 2001 the compulsory recruitment age was 18, but 40% of soldiers were under 18, with children as young as 14.

Mary Merrill2008 Population:9.2 million (4.1 million under 18)Government Armed Forces:46,100Compulsory Recruitment Age:19Voluntary Recruitment Age:15 (for pre-military service)Voting Age:18Optional Protocol:acceded 22 December 2004

In 2002, approximately 23.9 percent of boys and 22.5 percent of girls ages 7 to 14 were working in Bolivia. The majority of working children in Bolivia were found in the agricultural sector(76.3 percent), followed by services (18.8 percent), manufacturing (4.2 percent), and other sectors (0.7 percent).505 Children work in the production of sugar cane and Brazilian nuts.506

Mary MerrillPopulation increase-1,058,000Under 18 increase-337,000Government armed forces increase-13,600Compulsory recruitment age- 1 year olderVoluntary recruitment age- sameChange from 2001-2008

Mary MerrillSolutions to this IssueBy Hannah JohnsonWhat Government has DoneGovernment has not taken any action against the use of underage soldiers in the army. Admitted to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child that youngsters between 14 and 17 had been found doing military service.

Bolivian President Evo MoralesNon Government Help Non-government organizations also taught courses on child rights to local police and Joint Task Forces

Committee on the Rights of the Child criticized the lack of specific procedures for providing special care and assistance to refugee children, particularly those who were unaccompanied or separated, and urged the government to establish a fully functioning and comprehensive refugee status-determination mechanism, with specific procedures for minors.

Committee on the Rights of the Child LogoOur OpinionThe Bolivian Government should be stricter on the age policy of military recruitmentEncourage and advertise working in the military to appropriate age groups (18+)Try to keep current soldiers, military men and women in the army for more then necessary one year.

Action Plan: Protecting the ChildrenGovernment should continue supporting children 15 and under staying in normal schools instead of joining the militaryAs this is a Government led issue, we propose that the law further restricts and establishes the recruitment age for the militaryMilitary recruiters could travel to poverty stricken towns neighboring countries such as Paraguay, Argentina and Peru for adult recruits.

Bolivian ChildrenWorks CitedOMCT, Rights of the Child in Boliviahttp://www.omct.org/files/2005/09/3074/report_children_bolivia_eng.pdfBolivian Capitalhttp://www.godhatestheworld.com/bolivia/images/government.gif

Bolivian Childrenhttp://www.soschildrensvillages.org.uk/images/general/Two%20boys%20in%20the%20playground-%20Bolivia.jpg/image_previewBolivian Soldiers http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2xBivGeP3CU/TkC25bTL2vI/AAAAAAAAF4U/Hhxni0yqCoM/s640/Bolivian+Soldiers+-+1.jpg"Child Soldiers - Children and Armed Conflict." Welcome to the United Nations: It's Your World. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Oct. 2011. .

"Bolivia | Child Soldiers Global Report 2008." Child Soldiers Global Report 2008 | Produced by the Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Oct. 2011. .

Dangl, Benjamin. "Bolivia's Gas War." Upside Down World. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Oct. 2011. .

"International Law - Children and Armed Conflict." Welcome to the United Nations: It's Your World. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Oct. 2011.

Works CitedBolivia http://www.globalmarch.org/resourcecentre/world/bolivia.pdf "UNHCR | Refworld | Child Soldiers Global Report 2001 - Bolivia." UNHCR Welcome. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Oct. 2011. ."UNHCR | Refworld | Child Soldiers Global Report 2004 - Bolivia." UNHCR Welcome. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Oct. 2011. ."UNHCR | Refworld | Child Soldiers Global Report 2008 - Bolivia." UNHCR Welcome. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Oct. 2011. ."Young, Armed and Dangerous - Photo Essays - TIME." Breaking News, Analysis, Politics, Blogs, News Photos, Video, Tech Reviews - TIME.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Oct. 2011. .Pictures:Bolivian President Evo Morales www.juventudrebelde.co.cu/Bolivian Children www.street-children.org.ukCommittee on the Rights of the Child Logo insanhaklarimerkezi.bilgi.edu.Bolivia Country: http://mashie.glogster.com/bolivia/Information:Bolivia: www.childsoldiersglobalreport.org"Bolivia | Child Soldiers Global Report 2008." Child Soldiers Global Report 2008 | Produced by the Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Oct. 2011. .Child Soldiers Global Report 2004 Bolivia: www.unhcr.org/refworld"UNHCR | Refworlhttp://mashie.glogster.com/bolivia/d | Child Soldiers Global Report 2004 - Bolivia." UNHCR Welcome. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Oct. 2011.