Child Soldiers Letter Rough Draft

We Can Right This Wrong

To: The UN

Hello. My name is Hisham Bukhari, and I am a student at The American International School of Muscat, TAISM. I’m a normal student with a normal life, and that’s how every child should be. Not being trained on how to use a gun, or how to stab with a knife. Yet there are countless child soldiers in the world, fighting for their lives right now, dragged into a mad conflict for things they didn’t even do. These children shouldn’t be prosecuted for the things they have done. They should be treated with care and put in a rehabilitation center. Please listen to what I have to say.

If anyone should be blamed for the actions of child soldiers, it should be their commanders. The reason why child soldiers join the military is largely because of them. Since children are very susceptible to influence, commanders use this to their advantage and try to make a child love war and killing. They are brainwashed into thinking that shooting innocent people is fun. Not only is it psychological, but it is also physical. Commanders repeatedly drug children and force them to stay. Any person that goes through these terrifying times should not be prosecuted.

Like I said before, children are very susceptible to influence, but that doesn't mean just bad influence. It can mean that they can also be rehabilitated. Look at the case of Ishmael Beah, a former child soldier. He was brainwashed so much, that he was actually angry that human rights activists saved him from being a child soldier. After rehabilitation, he's now a successful author that has published many books, one being his experience of being a child soldier. Ishmael Beah is living proof that child soldiers can be rehabilitated.

I know that there is a chance that rehabilitation won’t work. In that case, that child is far too influenced to change for the better, and the only choice is to prosecute them. But every living thing deserves a chance. We should treat every opportunity like Ishmael Beah. A child soldier at first might seem like they are too far gone to help, but with enough treatment, they can be cured.

Please consider helping child soldiers, instead of prosecuting them. It will help them a lot when they are grown up. With enough effort, we can reduce the number of child soldiers being used everyday. I realize that you could just throw out this letter in the garbage, and forget everything I said. But please, help child soldiers, not harm them.

Sincerely,

Hisham Bukhari, TAISM Student