The Child Soldiers of Sierra Leone

View a slideshow of photos from the Sierra Leone handover

A Zambian peacekeeper stands with some of the children about to be turned over to the UN. For more photos, click here. Photo: Ivan Watson, NPR

Sierra Leone’s 10-year civil war has produced its share of horrific atrocities. But the practice of drugging young boys and forcing them into battle is among the most disturbing.

Recently, the rebel Revolutionary United Front began handing over hundreds of these child soldiers to the United Nations. The handover is being hailed as a huge achievement in the recent peace initiative in the West African Country.

NPR’s Ivan Watson was on hand recently when 120 boys were turned over to the UN during a ceremony in the diamond-mining town of Tonga.