Publisher's Synopsis
"The Islamist armed group Al-Shabab in Somalia recruits and uses hundreds of children as fighters. But their hardships and abuses continue even after these children escape or are captured by government forces. [This report] documents the treatment of children arrested and detaied since 2015 for suspected association with Al-Shabab. It is based o over 80 interviews, including with children formerly forced to train with or support Al-Shabab, their relatives, boys who had been detained in inelligence and police custody, lawyers, child protection advocates, and government officials. The report finds that authorities across Somalia are subjecting children in their custody to serious abuses, including coercive confessions and prohibiting access to their family members. ... Human Rights Watch calls on the Somali government to end arbitrary detention of children and allow to systematic independent oversight of. children in custody."--Back cover
