Choosing a Country
Questions and Resources
There are more than 30 locations where child soldiers are active in armed conflicts.
Your teacher will ask you to research a country, or a group of countries, and then
report your findings back to the class. Your teacher may ask you to work independently,
in pairs, or small groups.
After you give your report, your class will choose one country to study together.
By exploring the specific situations of one country in greater depth, your class will
develop policies that address the WebQuest’s Big Question: What should be done
about child soldiers?
Keep the following questions in mind as you research countries and prepare your report:
 Are
child soldiers fighting for the government, paramilitary groups, or armed opposition groups?
What is the compulsory recruitment age?
What is the voluntary recruitment age?
Has the country signed or ratified the CRC and the OP?
The answers to these questions are likely to have an impact on the policies you develop and propose—particularly the judicial ones. For example:
In each country, the situation for child soldiers will be different if children are recruited by
armed opposition groups, or by the established government’s military. Therefore, the
policies you develop may be very different depending upon who is recruiting them.
Some countries maintain they are not violating children's rights as long as joining an
army is a voluntary decision.
Whether or not the country you are considering has signed or ratified the CRC and/or the
OP will have an impact on the policy recommendations as well.
Consider all the variables before making your recommendations.
Resources for Research
Here are some excellent resources to help choose a country for the WebQuest:
The Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict
This Web site has a detailed description of the problem, of children and armed conflict. It also highlights the progress made so far. In addition, the site lists every country
where children are involved in armed conflict. You can also look through the official UN documents here.
The Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers
This Web site has a comprehensive database on child soldiers around the world.
It also offers a more in-depth look at the status of child soldiers in
individual countries around the world.
  
Illustration:
Felicity O. Yost. Source:
Marie, In the Shadow of the Lion, by Jerry Piasecki. ©
United Nations, 2001
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