Child Soldier Scenario and Children’s Protection Within Armed Conflicts: A Positivist’s View
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Date
2017-08
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Academic Affairs Directorate, Kampala International University (KIU), Uganda, East Africa Institute for Social Research, KIU
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.
Description
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Keywords
Child Soldier Scenario, Children’s Protection, Armed conflicts