Kurdish armed groups, backed by foreign nations, are conscripting children into military ranks and training them for combat purposes. The indifference shown by international organizations has exposed this generation of children to severe psychological and social harm.
(Part II)
By Dr. Zana Sadeqi – Iranian Kurdistan Human Rights Watch
Seven months after Donald Trump declared ISIS/ISIL defeated and announced a US troop withdrawal in December 2018, the Pentagon agreed to a commitment with the United Nations to end the use of child soldiers. However, this decision remained a commitment on paper only, lacking immediate implementation.
Kurdish armed groups, particularly the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and its Syrian offshoot, the People’s Protection Units (YPG), operate in Syria with direct and indirect support from the United States. These groups, which the US refers to as its “Kurdish allies,” actively recruit children and adolescents for military training and participation in conflicts. Over ten thousand children have been killed during these activities, yet a significant portion of local communities and international bodies have failed to provide an effective response to this human rights violation.
According to published reports, these children receive military training in camps and areas controlled by the PKK/YPG in Syria, Iraq, and even Europe, and are frequently compelled to participate in combat operations. These actions not only violate international child protection laws but also inflict profound psychological and social damage on the children involved.
Exploitation in Refugee Camps
Iranian Kurdistan Human Rights Watch (IKHRW), through field research and interviews with refugees, stresses that refugee camps—especially those housing the Yazidi minority—have become primary hubs for the recruitment and training of children by armed groups. These children are often victims of poverty, orphanhood, and a lack of legal and psychological support, making them easy targets for exploitation by organized armed networks.
In many cases, international bodies, including the United Nations and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), remain indifferent despite being aware of this process. Significant financial resources are allocated to support these camps without preventing the exploitation of children. This silence and inaction represent a moral and legal crisis in the international response.
Psychological and social studies indicate that children forced into combat are exposed to severe psychological risks. They frequently suffer from deep trauma, chronic anxiety, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and a profound loss of trust in society.
Yazidi children, in particular, who were already scarred by past genocidal experiences and violence, face complex social and cultural challenges upon returning to their communities after being recruited by armed groups. Many may transition from being victims to perpetrators of violence, making this cycle of abuse difficult to break. Iranian Kurdistan Human Rights Watch believes that without comprehensive rehabilitation and psychological support programs, the children’s successful reintegration and the prevention of continued violence will be impossible.
The Cost of International Indifference
Despite numerous UN reports, no concrete action has been taken to prevent the PKK/YPG from recruiting children. This indifference is evident both from the countries that support these groups and from international institutions. Paper agreements, such as the action plan to end the use of child soldiers, become mere propaganda tools without genuine oversight and enforcement guarantees.
Iranian Kurdistan Human Rights Watch warns that the continuation of this trend endangers the lives of children and threatens the security and stability of local communities. Supporting countries and international bodies must accept their legal and moral responsibility toward these children and take immediate steps to halt the recruitment, training, and use of child soldiers.
The use of child soldiers by foreign-backed Kurdish armed groups is a grave human rights crisis with deep psychological and social consequences for both the children and society. The indifference of international bodies and supporting countries exacerbates this crisis, necessitating urgent and serious action to protect and rehabilitate these children.
Iranian Kurdistan Human Rights Watch reiterates that stopping these practices is only achievable through full transparency, international monitoring, and the provision of psychological and social support to the children. Allowing the current situation to continue will expose future generations to irreparable harm.
