Conflict and War
The pain and suffering of war continues and the world never seems to learn.
But violent conflict can and must be stopped. Everybody needs to work together to achieve a just world peace.
Over 300,000 child soldiers are now involved in more than 30 conflicts worldwide.
- In the last decade 103 armed conflicts worldwide have cumulatively taken the lives of nearly 100 million people in 40 countries.
- Nine out of 10 fatalities during these wars were innocent civilians, half of them children.
- In 1998 alone, armed conflicts resulted in 31 million refugees and displaced persons.
- Over one million mines have been planted in Somalia while in Cambodia there are two mines for every child and one person in every 236 is an amputee.
- Torture occurs in more than 100 countries and is part of government policy in at least 40.
- Reports following 1994 genocide in Rwanda revealed that nearly every female over the age of 12 who survived was raped.
- Compulsory military service exists in 94 nations, and in about half of them conscientious objectors can be imprisoned, fined or have their service doubled.
- One tenth of the world’s military budget is enough to eradicate poverty worldwide.
- Costa Rica is the only country in the world without an army.
What causes conflict?
- RESOURCES – An estimated 50 percent of wars are resource-related. Resources include: territory, mineral deposits, fertile land, good water, ports and cities.
- IDENTITY – Conflicting values, cultures, ideas or religions can create explosive situations.
- POLITICS – Struggles can occur between different classes, groups, countries or leaders over power, resources, recognition or political control.
- INEQUALITY – The widening gap in incomes and the failure of governments to be fair and just has created bitterness and anger among the world’s poor.
- HISTORICAL – Conflict is often motivated by previous events and a sense of injustice or revenge.
Children and young people are particularly at risk from war and conflict.
An a vacuum of suffering and pain, safety, stability, peace and education are an unimaginable luxury.
Some children are forcibly abducted and used as soldiers, porters, sex slaves or mine clearers. Over 300,000 child soldiers are now involved in more than 30 conflicts worldwide.
In the last ten years:
- One million children have been orphaned or separated from their families
- Two million have died as a direct result of armed conflict
- Six million have been permanently disabled or seriously injured
- Twenty million children have become refugees
UNICEF 2001
This article was written as part of Global Focus a collaborative project of Tearaway Magazine and the Global Education Centre. It was first published in Tearaway magazine and is reprinted here with their permission
Photo: OxfamCAA
