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China Keitetsi - Niña-welded

China Keitetsi: "Helping child soldiers is the responsibility of all"

At age 8, was no longer a child and became a soldier. He lost his family, his childhood and his name and spent part of the National Resistance Army of Uganda, led by Yowere Museveni, the current president. At age 19, got the hell out of his life as a fighter and with the help of the United Nations, moved to Denmark. He has since worked as a tireless activist in mobilizing resources and awareness against the recruitment of children as soldiers. He currently collaborates with various organizations and heads a foundation to rehabilitate former child soldiers. She is the author of two books recounting his experiences on the front and recovery

© UNICEF España/2008 In a world where millions of children "playing war" with toy guns or through video games, many children are forced to live the real war, becoming combatants from an early age. For them the war is not fun and makes them feel stronger. China Keitetsi says from his experience as a former child soldier, the reality of a private children their most basic rights that too often are seen as guilty. His message focuses especially on girls, which is often forgotten when talking about this issue, but in reality are suffering toughest situations.

Talking about child soldiers, many people may think that is a problem that affects only boys. What does it mean for a girl to be a child soldier?

is much more difficult for a girl. To start, you lose your identity as a woman: you have to wear a military uniform, boots, short hair ... you should bring you are not allowed to use lipstick and nothing to remember you're a girl. You are not allowed be a woman: change the way you speak, the way you move, even your way to be just standing ... everything. Also you are despised and humiliated: Imagine being 16 years and can not remember how many men have touched your body and you have abused. Many girls as young as 13 become mothers without the love of a family or anyone to care for them, without father or mother, with no one to say "I'm here to support you, I will protect them." On the front the girls are forced to commit atrocities only to prove they are not a coward, and that is never forgotten. You feel dirty and worthless, you lose all your self-esteem and believe you do not deserve that nobody wants. For the kids too is terrible, but I can not speak for them, because I lived as a woman.

Would you say that, after leaving the armed groups, is more difficult social reintegration of girls than boys?

© UNICEF España/2008 Yes, back to the community is more difficult for them. All child soldiers are timid when faced with normal life. For starters do not know anyone and nobody knows them. They have many difficulty making friends because people feel afraid of them and they do not know how to relate and how to talk about everyday things, because they only know about weapons. The girls also find that, in most cases are mothers at an age at which girls should be. You have to learn to socialize, you have to get accept and also have to take care of your children, without knowing how, because nobody has cared for you. You have to give love and never have received, and also do not think you deserve to receive it. You have to learn to be women and motherhood and that is very difficult for a girl who is all alone in the world.

Many children and teens are fond of games that recreate scenes of war violence. How would you explain to children and young people are attracted to the violence that war is not a game?

is difficult to get a European child is made to the idea of \u200b\u200bwhat the reality of situations that occur in remote locations that have never been. Maybe ask them to imagine not having children, not having a family ... imagine what kind of reasons can drive thousands of boys and girls to risk their lives crossing deserts and seas to reach countries like Spain, Italy or Malta. Many flee to countries at war, and perhaps have been soldiers have deserted.

"No child would want to take that life if I knew how it really is and if I could really choose" When a child comes into an armed group perhaps at first to exclaim "Wow!" feel powerful and say "wow, I can have this gun, but that feeling lasts for a moment. In real life (and this is real life, not a game), they can never think for themselves, others to control their minds, violate them, stick them, humiliate them and force them to crawl through the mud, walking through the undergrowth without rest, without sitting and holding a heavy weapon and listening as someone tells them "go, go, go ..." No child would want to take that life if I knew how it really is and if I could really choose.

Do you think governments are doing enough?

No. It would require greater commitment in the rehabilitation and reintegration of former child soldier, which earmarked funds to rebuild their lives. You can not get them out of the army and leave to their fate: they have to learn to live. I think it's time that unite us all: both governments and ordinary people ... Those over 18 years we should take it as a responsibility towards children. There are millions of children who have died, millions have to live without love, without protection ... In the war!. We need to develop rehabilitation plans tailored to their needs: some may may need a year to recover from the trauma, but others may take 10 or 12 years. And the situation they encounter when returning to towns and cities does not help them feel better: people are pointing the finger, he refuses and makes them feel guilty about what they experienced. Everyone must understand that it is not his fault but those adults who consent to this happening. They are victims and need to return to an environment that allows them to start from scratch and be taught to live, so they can begin to truly live.

Source:
http://www.unicef.es/contenidos/868/index.htm?idtemplate=1