Week 15 Apr 25, 2011-Justice

I was shocked to learn the details of how children cope with being child soldiers. Many of the documentaries I have watched in the past have shown how children love the opportunity to fight in Child armies. “Children consistently sleep in the bus depot to avoid be abducted by the LRA” (Invisible Children 2003). The politics of fear are being spread by throughout Africa and this method of control is highly effective. The politics of fear allow for the general population to be scared of the rebels and this fear renders many other problems within Africa from being addressed. Residents are so understandably consumed with fear of the military regimes that community building, education etc. is ignored.  The fear of capture allows creates psychological damage to the children which could stifle their development.

The African Civil War has been being waged for an extensive amount of time. “The African civil war has been being waged for 23 years” (The Rescue of Joseph Kony's child Soldiers, 2008). I believe that many other first-world countries should focus are efforts of promoting diplomacy within this region. This civil war is what allows the opportunity for children to become child soldiers in the first place. The civil has broken the societal structure and the country cannot advance technologically. Also, this civil war has become a breeding ground for other human rights violations such as genocide and child prostitution. I believe that the crimes occurring in Africa could be solved by American intervention. American intervention does not occur because it does not seem feasible for America to get involved with Africa’s problems. However, American intervention could provide many benefits to America. By instituting new methods to combat child trafficking and prostitution, we could help African children while also learning if these methods are effective. Once the methods become effective, we could take these methods and institute them in America.

When I was a child all I had to worry about was homework and my mother making me clean my room. The horrific crimes that child soldiers face are unbearable. What makes matters worse is that the majority of the American population does not care. I believe that almost Americans are somewhat aware of the crimes that are being committed overseas. However, because there is a lack of interest in the plight of other countries many media outlets do not report these crimes.  “States shall refrain from recruiting any person who has not attained the age of fifteen years into their armed forces.”  (UNICEF, 1989).  These kinds of regulations can paint a bright picture for future countries in turmoil. I believe that we need to continue to raise awareness for war-torn countries such as Africa. Also, I believe that awareness and lobby groups need to discover ways to relate the plight of African child soldiers to the Average American. Americans will only start caring about the problems of Africans if they can relate or believe that the problems of Africa will affect them. If Americans start to care about the plight of child soldiers, a quicker resolution will be found to the problem because Americans can provide a greater number of resources.

Another element of this that deeply affected me was the methods that children are controlled. The early exposure to violence desensitizes the African children to the horrors that they are experiencing. When these child soldiers are rescued, it is often very difficult to reintegrate them back into society. The pictures and images they were constructing were heart breaking to view. Many adult soldiers have trouble reintegrating back into society after war, so I can only imagine how much difficulty a child soldiers endures since their mind is still developing. Even when these child soldiers are extracted, they live under the fear that they will be recaptured. I believe this constant fear prohibits them from fully recovering. In order to allow full recovery, we As Americans should set up programs for these child soldiers to flee their country and rebuild their lives without the looming fear and pressure of being recaptured.

Works Cited

Convention on the Rights of the Child, UNICEF, 1989, http://www2.ohchr.org/english/law/crc.htm

Russel, J, Bailey, B. & Poole, L. (Creators). (2006, April 7)  Invisible Children  [Google video]. Retrieved April 18, 2011 from    http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3166797753930210643 

Russel, J, Bailey, B. & Poole, L. (Creators). (2008, April 25)    The Rescue of Joseph Kony's child Soldiers    [online video]. Retrieved April 18, 2011 from http://vimeo.com/3400420 

Extra Credit Blog!

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Week 14 Apr 18, 2011-Child Prostitution

I was appalled at the strife that child prostitute must endure.  “At least 300,000 children and adolescents are prostituted every year in the United States” (Kiem, 2009).  I had no idea that these child prostitutes have to enter the workforce so young. Most child prostitutes are only 13 or 14 years old and this causes the children to classify their captors as father figures. This classification as a father figure forces many child prostitutes to classify their captors as father figures. Since the child prostitutes classify their captors as father figures, it is very hard for them to be saved or to have them prosecute their pimp since they are emotionally invested into their captors. A lack in international law also allows for prostitution to flourish. Financially successful pimps are able to easily move between countries and are not prosecuted harshly enough. They are able to provide bribes when needed, so focus needs to be put on battling corruption. Also, a unified organization to battle child trafficking will allow for child traffickers to be prosecuted correctly and fairly.

The article about child prostitution intrigued me because I only ever looked at prostitution as a bad thing. However, not all of these children that practice want to be saved, or are committing prostitution strictly for the benefit of their parents. Some of the child prostitutes use their excess money for gambling, alcohol etc. The lack of governmental control needs to be accounted for the prevalence of child prostitution, but some of our class articles are also forcing me to question other factors. The access to education is one of the key factors that I believe is overlooked. Many of these child prostitutes are misinformed about facts regarding their access to opportunity. Many believe that they have no other options other than child prostitution. While child prostitution is the most lucrative, I believe there are other economic options. However, a young child is going to classify information from their parents as 100% fact. I believe it would be highly effective if we could break this cycle of misinformation by correctly educating parents and their children on alternative economic solutions to prostitution.


Another point I would like to highlight is the idea that poverty drives girls into prostitution. Poverty can break down the family structure which allows for young girls to be vulnerable to child prostitution. The poverty forces families to allow their children to enter prostitution to help the family financially. Our Modern Slavery video shows how many families will force their children into slavery in order to battle poverty. “In Thailand the children enter prostitution as soon as they are old enough in order to support their parents” (2011).  These actions by parents are human rights violations and need to be regulated by international committees.“Men prey on young women promising them everything they have ever wanted with the sole intention of benefiting from their exploitation” (Kiem, 2009). These pimps are not only taking advantage of the young girls but are also taking advantage of their parents. The prostitution of children has become a pyramid scheme and should not be treated as every other crime. The pimps can be locked up but new pimps will emerge and prostitution will continue unless we eliminate poverty!

I believe that we need to focus on eliminating poverty. Since poverty is generational, the same areas are subject to prostitution. The cycles of prostitution do not allow for children to escape. By eliminating poverty, family structures will be stronger, allowing for parents to have greater control of their children. Also, the desire to allow their children to fall into the hands of a pimp will greatly decrease. The GEM Program is doing wonderful things and I believe that we should create more programs like this. The GEM program focuses on the long view theory which I think is the best possible defense for women to resist prostitution. Prostitution is not something can be cured overnight, and it the deeper psychological elements must be considered and rectified. America has several awareness programs for human trafficking but I believe that we need to create a greater number of awareness campaigns. I was not aware of much of the plight of child sex slaves until I took this course. Now that I am educated, I feel better empowered to combat child trafficking. I know there are many other people out there similar to me that need just a little bit of education to become a positive force in the fight against child trafficking.

Work Cited:

Montgomery, H. (2007). Working with child prostitutes in Thailand: Problems of practice and interpretation. Childhood, 14(4), 415.  

Modern Slavery: Captive Servants and Child Prostitution. Films Media Group, 2008. Films On Demand. Web. 11 April 2011. < http://digital.films.com.ezproxy1.lib.asu.edu/PortalPlaylists.aspx?aid=1850&xtid=41369 >.

Week 12 Apr 11, 2011-Indian Poverty

I believe the plight of Children in India should be treated as a human rights violation. The health issues that these children encounter can be seen as a mass illness due to the severe health implications this labor has. "These children can encounter many physical problems as well as psychological problems" (Meehan). Countries such as India should not treat their children as equal adults in the workplace. A child's body is not as developed as an adult's and is more prone to illness and disease. The rigor of the workplace is detrimental to a child and when children suffer so does the future of society. I never really considered the psychological damage that is experienced by child workers until reading the articles and watching the film. "Child labor appeared to be negatively correlated with the health status of the population, supporting the hypothesis that child labor affects child health” (Roggero 273).

The article about child prostitution intrigued me because I only ever looked at prostitution as a bad thing. However, not all of these children that practice want to be saved, or are committing prostitution strictly for the benefit of their parents. Some of the child prostitutes use their excess money for gambling, alcohol etc. The lack of governmental control needs to be accounted for the prevalence of child prostitution, but some of our class articles are also forcing me to question other factors. The access to education is one of the key factors that I believe is overlooked. Many of these child prostitutes are misinformed about facts regarding their access to opportunity. Many believe that they have no other options other than child prostitution. While child prostitution is the most lucrative, I believe there are other economic options. However, a young child is going to classify information from their parents as 100% fact. I believe it would be highly effective if we could break this cycle of misinformation by correctly educating parents and their children on alternative economic solutions to prostitution.

These children are withheld from developing properly and developing their social skills. I believe that an international set of guidelines should be established for all child workers. Currently, the super powers allow other countries to regulate their workplaces as they see fit. However, if we start classifying workplace violations as international issues, then more progress will be made to protect the children. These children will then be appreciative of the developmental security they were granted and will be more likely to protect their children as well. I would also like to highlight the fact made in the video that many Western children benefit because of the plight of Indian children. Western children enjoy a luxurious life because of the mandate of child labor laws. However, these labor laws have just recently been enacted. America can serve as a model for what India could be and should help to assist India in the transformation to a child labor free country. I also agree with the video in its statement that there are many people who want to help the plight of Indian children but are unable to because they are so spread out. Coordinated efforts will help the efficiency of these efforts and will help to greater benefit India.

Works Cited

Meehan, Ruth (director). "India: Working to End Child Labor" 2004. Online video clip. Arizona Universities Library Consortium. FMG Video On Demand. Peadar King (Executive Producer)Accessed on 20 July 2010.http://digital.films.com/play/VBRGKP

Roggero, P., Mangiaterra, V., Bustreo, F., & Rosati, F. (2007). The health impact of child labor in developing countries: Evidence from cross-country data. American Journal of Public Health, 97(2), 271-5.

“Youth Rules! U.S Department of Labor” < https://myasucourses.asu.edu/webapps/blackboard/content/contentWrapper.jsp?content_id=_4856221_1&displayName=Required+Reading%3A++Youth+Rules%21+U.S.+Department+of+Labor&course_id=_196100_1&navItem=content&href=http%3A%2F%2Fyouthrules.dol.gov%2Fteens%

Child Suffering Week 11 Apr 4, 2011

This week's readings surprised me because I did not realize that children are subject to such maltreatment. The children were not cared for and they were not allowed to engage in regular behavior that make citizens normal o society. These children were not allowed to partake in any activities that were normal to health. The First daycare was built in the 1940's and these daycare's barely satisfied the needs of the children. I find it amazing that we were able to treat children as tools for labor. The need for labor forced many Americans to abandon their morals and force children to work. Education was made secondary because most families were just worrying about surviving. I also like what Unicef is doing. By highlighting the plight of children, we are more likely to have them receive help and refrain from neglecting the,.