Child Soldiers ─ A Reference Handbook

This accessible reference for general readers and students in high school and up uses plain language to explain the complex political, historical, and cultural realities behind the continued use of child soldiers. The book also addresses the psychological impact on child soldiers and looks at how international law and human rights organizations have dealt with the problem in recent years. Some of the problems and controversies explored are related to putting child recruiters on trial and US rules for treatment of detainees and unlawful combatants. The reference includes a chronology, a glossary, a directory of organizations, and a review of relevant international treaties and US legislation, plus biographical sketches of child soldiers, recruiters, and key figures in the movement to end the practice. A 30-page list of resources points toward research studies, sources on policy and advocacy, human rights reports, legal analyses, biographies and autobiographies, films and videos, and podcasts. Rosen teaches anthropology and law at Fairleigh Dickinson University, Vancouver, Canada. Annotation c2012 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

David M. Rosen is professor of anthropology and law at Fairleigh Dickinson University, NJ. His published works includeArmies of the Young: Child Soldiers in War and Terrorism.