Luis: The aim should not be punishing child soldiers but rehabilitation back to better and in society. Even if it looks like a child has volunteered this may not be the case, because Child soldiers rarely have the same understanding of their decisions, and actions as adults and therefore should not be held responsible for their actions. If prosecution isn’t done then this will be allowing child soldiers immunity from prosecution that will deny victims justice. It is unfair to victims that will have to live side-by-side with their attacker and see them walk free without any punishment, but child soldiers are often victims as well of war themselves. Prosecutions do not allow the opportunity to these children/adolescents to rehabilitate and instead prioritise the rights of victims over the rights of the child (soldier), even though the child himself will probably have suffered abuse as well from the experiences of war.
Denise: The other point of view is that child soldiers should not be prosecuted because child soldiers aren’t morally responsible for their actions. Children are forced to become involved in armed group due to many factors it could be because they were kidnapped or because of extreme poverty. All the actions that child soldiers commit are due to adult orders and out of their free will because for the most part these children are being drugged. Also, it’s difficult for a child soldier to escape and leave an armed group because they become highly dependent towards their commanders and believe that’s the only way they can receive money for food, not only that but they also believe that this is the only thing that can secure their safety.