One of the greatest tolls of war is the cost to our future incurred by killing and maiming babies, small children, and youth. They are not just collateral damage.
Among the thousands of civilians who have been killed or maimed in the Afghanistan war, children are the most innocent. Apart from death and injury, though, here are some additional ways that children are impacted, as described in a United Nations report:
- Taliban and other factions have recruited children for military training, to conduct suicide attacks, transport weapons and plant explosives.
- National Security Forces have detained children for alleged national security crimes
- Afghan National Police have used children as drivers, messengers, and at checkpoints
- Schools and medical facilities have been damaged, causing disproportional impacts on children
Tragically, the devastating effects of war on children do not end when a ceasefire begins or a treaty is signed. Think of how your sons and daughters would be affected if they were forced to be soldiers, forced to kill, forced into prostitution, forced to wait and see where the next bomb would fall.
Think about your children growing up in a country in which there are thousands of unexploded landmines and other explosive devices, a country in which you or they could be killed or maimed for one wrong step. Imagine your children growing up with birth defects and widespread pollution from Agent Orange.
Albert Einstein said, “The world is a dangerous place. Not because of the people who are evil; but because of the people who don’t do anything about it.”
What are some things that YOU can do to help prevent wars and protect those children who are victims of the ravages of war?
Kathie Malley-Morrison, Professor of Psychology, and Pat Daniel, Managing Editor of Engaging Peace