The large scale trade in small arms is a major factor behind the growing worldwide phenomenon of child soldiers, top United Nations officials said on Wednesday.
"It is argued by many that it is the proliferation of small arms contributing to their ready availability in the period 1970 2000, which has led to the phenomenon of child soldiers as we know it today," the United Nations envoy on children and armed conflict, Radhika Coomaraswamy, said.
"For $5 (Rs 215) one can find a serviceable weapon in most countries in the developing world," she remarked, noting that it takes a child on an average only 40 minutes to master an AK-47, one of the most common weapons used around the world.
The UN envoy also stressed that there were 600 companies in 95 countries around the world producing small arms, in addition to the growing reach of private arms dealers 'who sell arms to anyone and who are accountable to no one'.
UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, Sergio Duarte, said when governments failed to provide for the security of their populations, people resort to retributive justice and armed violence.
"In such surroundings, adolescents and children need special attention. As long as security needs of the affected populations remain unanswered, the negative impact of small arms will continue to exist and will affect future generations," he added.
At a conference to discuss the impact of the weapons trade on society, former child soldier Emmanuel Jal described how he had fought for five years in southern Sudan before escaping to Kenya, where he subsequently became an internationally-acclaimed singer and an advocate against the use of under-age combatants.
