Child soldiers seek haven in Britain

By Angus Crawford
BBC News

The charity helps children who have been forced to become soldiers

A charity in the UK working with torture victims says the numbers of former child soldiers seeking its help has more than doubled in the last five years.

The Medical Foundation for the Care of Victims of Torture said the asylum system is not geared up to cope with these young people, who have been forced to fight and have often been sexually abused.

It also fears that changes proposed by the government could make things worse.

James arrived here as a child seven years ago at the age of 17 and claimed asylum. The Home Office disputed his age and put him into a hostel.

"There was a lot of bullying, a lot of drugs going on, prostitution, shouting at night," he said.

"I had my own problems... I saw a lot of things that bring me back to my past".

They may have killed, they may have wielded guns... but they probably in all cases have been sexually abused or raped Susanna Rook Medical Foundation

James - not his real name - is from Uganda. He says he was kidnapped by rebel group the Lords Resistance Army, that his parents were murdered and that he was made to fight.

Captured and tortured by government forces, he then escaped to the UK.

He says immigration officials did not believe his story and made him repeat it.

"They asked me many times, they kept on asking it again and again. It was bringing back my memories... it was like they are tricking me."

He did find help from the Medical Foundation for the Care of Victims of Torture.

Volunteer Susanna Rook said the young men are both victims and perpetrators.

"They were forced to watch pregnant women being ripped open and a foetus being taken out.

"They may have killed, they may have wielded guns... but they probably in all cases have been sexually abused or raped."

As for their treatment by the Home Office she says: "They must feel like they're on trial."

Growing numbers

A decade ago none of the Foundation's clients had been child soldiers. In 2002 there were approximately 10, now there are 28.

The organisation says the asylum system is failing them. There is it claims a culture of disbelief, a lack of expertise and insufficient resources.

Many children are given guns and a uniform when in their early teens

But some fear it could be about to get worse.

The Home Office has published a new consultation document which it says will help improve the situation.

The proposed changes include creating specialist local authorities to provide care, introducing X-rays to help determine age, and voluntary return of 16 and 17 years olds to the countries they came from.

But Dr Heaven Crawley, director of the centre for migration policy research at Swansea University, believes the government "is being duplicitous" with its proposals.

"It's presenting something as potentially offering better outcomes."

"Those on the ground fear that it'll lead to worse outcomes for a group struggling to rebuild their lives."

Modernisation call

The Home Office has underlined that it is at the moment just a consultation paper.

A spokesperson said: "When keeping the borders secure we can't forget the need to treat, often vulnerable children, with care and respect.

"There is widespread consensus that the way we care for unaccompanied asylum seeking children must be modernised. That's why we are asking people how they think our system should change.

"We will listen carefully to what the Medical Foundation says before we publish our conclusions."

After seven years of interviews, court appearances and appeals, James has been told he can now stay in Britain.

He is studying to be an electrician and in time would like to have a family.

"I want to keep my name and my family name alive... to remind me of my dad. That's the most important thing."