Thousands of girls are war slaves

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Thousands of girls are war slaves
By Ruth Barnett

TENS OF thousands of girls have been press-ganged into armed groups in Africa, Asia and Latin America, according to a report published today.

Up to 120,000, many kidnapped and sexually abused, are serving as soldiers, cooks and sex-slaves or “wives” for guerrilla commanders, Save the Children estimates in Forgotten Casualties of War: Girls in Armed Conflict.

In Uganda, 6,500 girls have been coerced into the rebel Lord’s Resistance Army, the report says. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, 12,000 are involved with armed groups and in Sri Lanka 21,000.

Mike Aaronson, the director-general of Save the Children, said: “We aim to change the system and ensure there is proper funding to help these girls so they can regain some sense of normal life.”

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3-1584419,00.html

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1. World armed groups 'abduct girls'

Monday, 25 April, 2005, 09:07 GMT 10:07 UK
World armed groups 'abduct girls'


A "hidden army" of girls is being forced to work for armed groups involved in conflicts worldwide, a charity says.

A Save The Children report found more than 120,000 girls and young women have been abducted and pushed into conflict.

The charity says they often end up serving as soldiers or performing domestic jobs, but almost all of them are forced into becoming sex slaves.

It urged world leaders to do more to stop "the war on children".
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/4478913.stm