Being a child in Somalia is becoming increasingly dangerous as groups fighting each other are recruiting and targeting children. According to Human Rights Watch, insurgent groups such as al-Shabaab are recruiting children to do their dirty work and commit atrocious crimes. These children are also forced to be human shields for adults as they fight which puts them directly into harms way and into the line of fire. Others are made to be suicide bombers in schools and other places. Young girls are being taken from their families to be married to older fighters and raped against their will.
If anyone tries to stop these militant groups from taking these children, they will be killed as school teachers and families have been murdered for merely telling them to stop.
Tell Somalia that they need to do more to protect children as they are being abused in every way possible.
We the undersigned sincerely ask the government of Somalia to do more to protect children as they are being taken by militant groups and forced to do atrocious things. Testimony from children and their families tell terrible stories of children being used as human shields, suicide bombers, child brides and more for insurgent groups such as al-Shabaab. Their families and communities are powerless to stop them as they will and have been killed for refusing to give up their children. These children must be protected as they are extremely vulnerable.
Please protect and support these children by implementing strategies and programs that will stop insurgents from taking these children from their families and forcing them to do atrocious things.
Thank you.
