Child Soldier Scenario and Children’s Protection Within Armed Conflicts: A Positivist’s View

Abstract

This study underscored a positivist’s philosophical stand referring to the status of children as soldiers and children’s protection within armed conflict situations from 2013 in Juba, Central Equatoria State, South Sudan utilizing both quantitative and qualitative data and retrospective-prospective designs as research strategies. The quantitative data on child soldier scenario and children’s protection within the armed conflict zones from 362 respondents (20-39 years of age) who had lived in Juba for over 7 years were elicited using validated and tested for reliability researcher structured questionnaires with open and close-ended questions. Record sheets reflected qualitative data from incident reports. The collection of data was matched with follow-up interviews and document analysis. The study employed three sampling techniques namely: stratified sampling, purposive sampling and simple random sampling. The responses on child soldier scenario were in these aspects: under the age of 10 when forced to serve as soldiers; the children volunteered themselves because of societal pressure and were under the impression that volunteering will provide a form of income, food, or security; child soldier recruitment breaking several human rights laws; poor and displaced from their families child soldiers had limited access to education and girl child soldiers were used for fighting and other purposes and were vulnerable to sexual violence. While the data on children’s protection conspicuously were in these concerns: accommodation, reintegration strategy, legal aspect, parental care and family life, health facilities and forced marriage. The findings implied peace and conflict resolutions by the relevant peace experts and security contingents.