Let Us Beat Swords into Plowshares”: Child Soldiers

Let Us Beat Swords into Plowshares”: Child Soldiers By Otto Spijkers A bronze man, facing UN Headquarters (see picture), uses a hammer to beat a sword into a plowshare. It is a statue in the United Nations Park in New York, made by the Russian artist Evgeniy Vuchetich. It has become a symbol of the work of the United Nations and its evolution: the United Nations does not only wish to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war; it also aims to promote the economic and social advancement of all peoples. How to implement these ideals in practice? Next to the statue, there’s a quote from the Bible: ...and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. Perhaps that is a bit too optimistic. But what about children? Why not assist our future generation in beating their swords into plowshares? There are (at least) two interesting recent developments: a conference on child soldiers and the first case ever at the International Criminal Court.