violence against children WORLD REPORT ON - CRIN

5older children. Many children reported thatthe staff often failed to intervene, even whenabuses occurred in front of them. Some childrenran away from the centres in the beliefthat they would be safer on the streets. 159Children in peacetime armiesThis study does not cover the subject of childsoldiers during wartime, which was exploredin the 1996 UN study Impact of Armed Conflicton Children (known as the Machel Study)and its follow-up. However, children who aremembers of Government military forces maybe subjected to violence in peacetime. Themode of life, work, and residence of these childrenis essentially institutional, taking place inarmy barracks or training camps.In at least 65 countries around the world,boys and girls are recruited into Governmentmilitary forces, either legally as volunteers, orillegally through force or deception. 160 Considerableevidence indicates that such underagesoldiers may be subjected to bullying,rape, sexual violence, and harassment to thepoint of self-harm and/or suicide, depressionand mental illness. For example, in Paraguay,children as young as 12 have been forciblyrecruited into the armed forces, often withbirth certificates falsified by civilian or militaryauthorities. Since 1989, over 100 youngconscripts have died while serving compulsorymilitary service, and many others have beenvictims of serious accidents. The deaths andinjuries were believed to be the result of punishmentby officers and the lack of safety measuresfor dangerous activities such as handlingweapons. Some conscripts suffered permanentpsychiatric damage after systematic ill-treatment.161,162,163In the UK, the suspicious deaths of two 17 yearold soldiers at Deepcut Army Barracks led torevelations of other suicides, as well as dozensof incidents of self-harm and systematic bullyingat the barracks. A 2004 parliamentarycommittee later conducted an inquiry and recommendedan external complaints procedureto investigate allegations of bullying and abusein the British military. 164Although not members of the armed forces,thousands of children live permanently onmilitary bases in army barracks. In Kazakhstan,Russia and the Ukraine, homeless andorphaned children may be ‘adopted’ by militaryunits from the age of 10 or 11. They alsoreceive military training, raising concernsabout their exposure to harsh conditions, bullyingand other forms of abuse, and hazardousactivities such as weapons training. 165Responses to violenceagainst children in careand justice institutionsA variety of responses is required to preventand respond to violence against children incare and justice systems. As with other settingsin which violence against children occurs,primary prevention to avoid violence beforeit takes place in institutions is highly important.This has two major thrusts: reducingthe main factors that lead to children beingplaced in institutions, and providing alterna-203Violence against Children in care and justice institutions