Extremism and its impact on recruiting children to commit on recruiting children

Abstract

Extremism is a dangerous social phenomenon whose negative effects impact society and all its members, especially vulnerable groups, namely children and women.

Recently, the phenomenon of extremism has become prevalent in most societies, including those in Western and developed countries, although its prevalence remains relatively low. Amid this dangerous escalation, extremists have begun to spread and promote their extremist ideas and views through all available means, legal or illegal. These include the exploitation and recruitment of children to commit terrorist crimes. It should be noted that extremists' desire to recruit children stems from multiple factors, including: exploiting the economic situation of children, particularly those living in poverty, deprivation, and need; homelessness, family breakdown; or the delinquency of one or both parents. Furthermore, the dissemination of extremist ideas in the minds of children is easier than in the minds of adults, and children are more obedient and loyal to their leaders. Therefore, some reports issued by UNICEF and Human Rights Watch indicate that thousands of children have been recruited to commit terrorist crimes in Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and some African countries. There is no doubt that the recruitment and involvement of children in these groups constitutes a blatant assault and a flagrant violation of their rights. Therefore, this dangerous phenomenon must be addressed by all available means and at all levels, including the enactment of appropriate legislation at the national level and the conclusion of agreements at the international level.