Child Soldiers Topic of Film and Discussion

By Connect Mason Reporter Rashad Mulla

Child soldiers in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo were the topic of the evening of Wed., Feb. 27. Over 35 people gathered in Dewberry Hall South for a short film and discussion on this issue in an event sponsored by Uganda Help and the George Mason University branch of Amnesty International.

The event featured Democratic Republic of Congo: Children at War, a 15-minute documentary describing the mindset of former child soldiers in Congo. The film was followed by short speeches and a Q-and-A session with Erin Neff, president of Amnesty International’s Mason chapter, as well as Rachel Muth, a Mason graduate student centering on child soldiers in her thesis.

After being briefed by organizers, the audience watched as many children in a Congo village recalled their days in the army from the safety of a rehabilitation center they entered post-service. They spoke about being beaten, abused and, in some cases, used as sex slaves. One boy said he was regularly confronted with possibilities of “violence, rape and death.”

“These children were abducted, and even though they rose in the ranks to possibly being a commander, they were still victims,” said Heather Bloemhard, treasurer of student organization Uganda Help, formerly Invisible Children.

Many children remain traumatized even after returning home and helping them get back to a normal life was difficult.

“There’s a difference between furthering the peace process and helping with rehabilitation,” said Bethany Bennett, president of Uganda Help.

Children who do not stay in the army are still subject to re-recruitment and returning to their previous lives due to living conditions affected by poverty. Some have turned to stealing for a living.

“It’s not an issue of them preferring to fight in a war,” said Kim Merritt, research associate of Amnesty International’s Mason chapter. “They don’t have any resources at home, and they don’t have anything to go home to.”

To raise awareness for child soldiers in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda and other African countries, event organizers passed out blank white sheets of paper for audience members to write or draw their reflections. These creative works will be displayed at a later date on Mason’s campus.

“If you're not willing to stand up and fight [for] other people, then how do you know somebody isn't going to do the same for you?” said Merritt. “There's no guarantee, with the way the world is right now, that we're always going to be safe and stable and have our rights protected.”

Uganda Help will hold an open mic night after spring break. There will be a small cover charge to get in, which Uganda Help plans to use for a loan to a small business owner in Uganda. Additionally, Amnesty International will hold lobby days, in order to speak to local and state officials about child soldiers.

More details about last night’s event can be found in the next Monday’s issue of Broadside.