For Second Year Obama Waives Ban on Aid to Countries Using Children Soldiers

For Second Year Obama Waives Ban on Aid to Countries Using Children Soldiers

The United States’ Child Soldiers Prevention Act of 2008 prohibits the U.S. government from providing funding, military training, or other forms of military aid to countries that recruit soldiers under the age of 18.  Yet for the second year in a row the Obama administration has waived this ban, deciding instead to aid several countries known to recruit and train military personnel under the age of 18.  These countries include Chad, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Yemen and South Sudan.  The Obama Administration says providing funding to such countries would help sustain the fight against al-Qaida and other terrorists that might be residing in these countries. Human Rights Watch decried the decision, saying that it showed “a lack of leadership and a disregard for U.S. law”.

Source:

Article Title: “Obama Waives Aid Curbs on Militaries Using Child Soldiers.”
Article Author: Jim Lobe
URL: www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=105356

Student Researcher: Vanesa Ardila, Florida Atlantic University
Faculty Advisor: James F. Tracy, Florida Atlantic University