What is a Child Soldier?

The LRA targets young children between the ages of 9 and 15 to serve as soldiers in the war against the Ugandan Government. They carry AK-47's and M-16's, on the front lines of combat and also serve as human mine detectors, participate in suicide missions, act as spies, and be lookouts and messengers for the rebels. Young girls are an estimated 30% of the young fighters, girls between the ages of 9-15 are used as sexual slaves by men almost 40 years older then them. When captured the children are taken to a place known as the 'Bush' where the brain washing process begins, when lined up most of the children begin by finding in front of them lay a loved one or their entire family which they are then forced to kill, if weakness is shown (crying at the thought of killing their mum, dad, brothers, sisters and grandparents) then along with their family the child is killed. If the child does kill their family then they are sent straight into training, they are taught to kill using anything and everything, and are immediately sent into conflict. Children are forced into smoking drugs, drinking alcohol, under age (unprotected) sex even with the deadly epidemic of aids spreading throughout Uganda, these things along with killing, become a daily excersise for the children.