A Chinese soldier, age 10, member of a Chinese division boarding planes in Myitkyina (Burma) bound for China, May 1944.

The term child soldier refers broadly to the participation of children in war, associated with government forces as well as armed groups. Historically and in the contemporary period, children have directly participated in conflict as combatants themselves as well as in support roles such as porters, spies, messengers, look outs, and sexual slaves. Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 494 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2472 × 3000 pixel, file size: 3. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 494 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2472 × 3000 pixel, file size: 3. ...

Red Hand Day on February 12 is an annual commemoration day to draw public attention to the practice of using children as soldiers in wars and armed conflicts. The Red Hand Day on February 12 is an annual commemoration day created to draw attention to the fate of children who are forced to serve as soldiers in wars and armed conflicts. ...

Polish Boy Scouts fighting in the Warsaw Uprising.

Young boy and girl scouts fighting in the Warsaw Uprising Author unknown, from the archives of Archives of Audiovisual Documentation (Archiwum Dokumentacji Audiowizualnej), Warsaw This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... Young boy and girl scouts fighting in the Warsaw Uprising Author unknown, from the archives of Archives of Audiovisual Documentation (Archiwum Dokumentacji Audiowizualnej), Warsaw This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... Polish Boy Scouts fighting in the Warsaw Uprising Boy Scouts originally denoted the organization that developed and rapidly grew up during 1908 in the wake of the publication by Lord Robert Baden-Powell of his book Scouting for Boys. ... Combatants Poland Nazi Germany Commanders Tadeusz Bór-Komorowski #, Antoni ChruÅ›ciel #, Tadeusz PeÅ‚czyÅ„ski Erich von dem Bach, Rainer Stahel, Heinz Reinefarth, Bronislav Kaminski Strength 47,500 troops[1] 25,000 troops (initially)[1] Casualties 15,200[2] killed, 5,000[2] wounded, 15,000[2] taken prisoner...

History

Illustrative bas-relief of Greek warrior accompanied by his charioteer. From the pediment of a kouros statue, ca. 490 BC.

Throughout history and in many cultures, children have been extensively involved in military campaigns even when such practices were supposedly against cultural morals. Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... The great kouros of Samos, the largest surviving kouros in Greece (Samos Archaeological Museum) A kouros (plural kouroi) is a statue of a male youth, dating from the Archaic Period of Greek sculpture (about 650 BC to about 500 BC). ...

The earliest mentions of minors being involved in wars come from antiquity. It was customary for youths in the Mediterranean basin to serve as aides, charioteers and armor bearers to adult warriors. Examples of this practice can be found in the Bible (such as David's service to King Saul), in Hittite and Egyptian art, and in Greek mythology (such as the story of Hercules and Hylas), philosophy and literature. The Mediterranean Sea is an intercontinental sea positioned between Europe to the north, Africa to the south and Asia to the east, covering an approximate area of 2. ... This Gutenberg Bible is displayed by the United States Library. ... David and Goliath, by Caravaggio, c. ... Saul (שאול המלך) (or Shaul) (Hebrew: שָׁאוּל, Standard Tiberian  ; asked for or borrowed) is a figure identified in the Books of Samuel and Quran as having been the first king of the ancient Kingdom of Israel. ... Relief of Suppiluliuma II, last known king of the Hittite Empire The Hittites were an ancient people who spoke an Indo-European language, and established a kingdom centered at Hattusa (Hittite URU) in north-central Anatolia from the 18th century BC. In the 14th century BC, the Hittite empire was... The bust of Zeus found at Otricoli (Sala Rotonda, Museo Pio-Clementino, Vatican) Greek mythology is the body of stories belonging to the Ancient Greeks concerning their gods and heroes, the nature of the world and the origins and significance of their own cult and ritual practices. ... Hercules and the Nemean Lion (detail), silver plate, 6th century BC (Cabinet des Médailles, Paris). ... Two Argonauts before a hunt. ...

Also in a practice dating back to antiquity, children were routinely taken on campaign, together with the rest of a military man's family, as part of the baggage. This exposed them to harm from rearguard attacks, such as the one at the battle of Agincourt, where the retainers and children of the English army were massacred by the French. Luggage is any number of bags, cases and containers which hold a travellers articles during transit. ... Combatants Kingdom of England Kingdom of France Commanders Henry V of England Charles dAlbret Strength About 6,000 (but see Modern re-assessment). ...

The Romans also made use of youths in war, though it was understood that it was unwise and cruel to use children in war, and Plutarch implies that regulations required youths to be at least sixteen years of age. Motto Senatus Populusque Romanus (SPQR) The Roman Empire at its greatest extent. ... Mestrius Plutarchus (Greek: Πλούταρχος; 46 - 127), better known in English as Plutarch, was a Greek historian, biographer, essayist, and Middle Platonist. ...

In medieval Europe, young boys from about twelve years of age were used as military aides ("squires"), though in theory their role in actual combat was limited. The so-called Children's Crusade in 1212 recruited thousands of children as untrained soldiers under the assumption that divine power would enable them to conquer the enemy, although none of the children actually entered combat; according to the legend, they were instead sold into slavery. While most scholars no longer believe that the Children's Crusade consisted solely, or even mostly, of children, it nonetheless exemplifies an era in which the entire family took part in a war effort. The Middle Ages formed the middle period in a traditional schematic division of European history into three ages: the classical civilization of Antiquity, the Middle Ages, and modern times. ... In medieval times a squire was a man-at-arms to a knight. ... The Childrens Crusade is the name given to a variety of fictional and factual events in 1212 that combine some or all of these elements: visions by a French and/or German boy, an intention to peacefully convert Muslims to Christianity, bands of children marching to Italy, and children... Slave redirects here. ...

Mexico honors its heroic cadets who died in the battle of Chapultepec (1847).

Young boys often took part in battles during early modern warfare. One of their more visible roles was as the ubiquitous "drummer boy" – the film Waterloo (based on the Battle of Waterloo) graphically depicts French drummer boys leading Napoleon's initial attack, only to be gunned down by Allied soldiers. During the age of sail, young boys formed part of the crew of British Royal Navy ships and were responsible for many important tasks including bringing powder and shot from the ship's magazine to the gun crews. These children were called "powder monkeys". During the Siege of Mafeking in the Second Boer War, Robert Baden-Powell recruited and trained 12-15 year old boys as scouts, thus freeing up the limited number of men for the actual fighting. The boys' success led indirectly to Baden-Powell founding the Boy Scouts, a youth organisation originally run along military lines. ImageMetadata File history File links Download high resolution version (2304x3072, 1256 KB) Statue devoted to one of the niño heroes along a walkway at the top of el Castillo de Chapultepec. ... ImageMetadata File history File links Download high resolution version (2304x3072, 1256 KB) Statue devoted to one of the niño heroes along a walkway at the top of el Castillo de Chapultepec. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Combatants United States Mexico Commanders Winfield Scott Nicolás Bravo # Strength 13,000 876 cadets, 4000 regulars Casualties 130 killed 703 wounded 29 missing 862 total 1,800 killed and wounded 823 captured 2,623 Total Gen. ... Gunpowder warfare is associated with the start of the widespread use of gunpowder and the development of suitable weapons to use the explosive. ... A drummer is a musician who plays the drums, particularly the drum kit, marching percussion, or hand drums. ... Waterloo was a film of 1970, directed by Sergei Bondarchuk. ... Combatants First French Empire Seventh Coalition: United Kingdom Kingdom of Prussia Kingdom of the United Netherlands Kingdom of Hanover Dutchy of Nassau Duchy of Brunswick Commanders Napoleon Bonaparte, Michel Ney Duke of Wellington, Gebhard von Blücher Strength 73,000 67,000 Coalition 60,000 Prussian (48,000 engaged by... The age of sail is the period in which international trade and naval warfare were both dominated by sailing ships. ... The Royal Navy of the United Kingdom is the oldest of the British armed services (and is therefore the Senior Service). ... Magazine is the name for a item or place within which ammunition is stored. ... Combatants United Kingdom Boers Commanders Robert Baden-Powell Colonel B T Mahon General Piet Cronje Strength 2,000 8,000 Casualties 212 dead 600 wounded Unknown but significantly higher than British The Siege of Mafeking was the most famous British action in the Second Boer War. ... Combatants British Empire Orange Free State South African Republic Commanders Sir Redvers Buller Lord Kitchener Lord Roberts Paul Kruger Louis Botha Koos de la Rey Martinus Steyn Christiaan de Wet Casualties 6,000 - 7,000 (A further ~14,000 from disease) 6,000 - 8,000 (Unknown number from disease) Civilians... Robert Stephenson Smyth Baden-Powell, 1st Baron Baden-Powell, OM, GCMG, GCVO, KCB (February 22, 1857 - January 8, 1941) was a soldier, writer and founder of the world scouting movement. ... Scouting, also known as the Scout Movement, is a worldwide youth movement with the stated aim of supporting young people in their physical, mental and spiritual development, so that they may play constructive roles in society. ...

By a law signed by Nicholas I of Russia in 1827, a disproportionate number of Jewish boys, known as the cantonists, were forced into military training establishments to serve in the army. The 25-year conscription term officially commenced at the age of 18, but boys as young as eight were routinely taken to fulfill the hard quota. Nicholas I (Russian: Николай I Павлович, Nikolai I Pavlovich), July 6 (June 25, Old Style), 1796–March 2 (18 February Old Style), 1855), was the Emperor of Russia from 1825 until 1855, known as one of the most reactionary of the Russian monarchs. ... For other uses, see Jew (disambiguation). ... // Cantonists in Prussia Cantonists (German: Kantonist, or a person living in a canton) were recruits in Prussia in 1733-1813, liable for draft in one of the cantons. ...

World War II

April 20, 1945. On his 56th birthday, Hitler awards Iron Cross to Hitler Youth outside his bunker during the Battle of Berlin.

Young child soldier in service of the Soviet Navy during World War II.

Prisoners of war in the streets of Berlin, 1945

In World War II, children frequently fought in insurrections. Many members of the youth movement Hashomer Hatzair fought in the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising of 1943. Many other anti-fascist resistance movements across Nazi-occupied Europe consisted partially of children. Also, the Soviet Union's armed forces used a number of child soldiers during the war. Image File history File links 19450420_Hitler_65bd_awards_HJ_Iron_Cross. ... Image File history File links 19450420_Hitler_65bd_awards_HJ_Iron_Cross. ... Hitler redirects here. ... A stylized version of the Iron Cross, the emblem of the Bundeswehr, Germanys Armed Forces. ... Combatants Soviet Union Communist Poland Nazi Germany Commanders 1st Belorussian Front – Georgiy Zhukov 2nd Belorussian Front – Konstantin Rokossovskiy 1st Ukrainian Front – Ivan Konev Army Group Vistula – Gotthard Heinrici then Kurt von Tippelskirch[2] Army Group Centre – Ferdinand Schörner Berlin Defense Area – Helmuth Reymann then Helmuth Weidling #[3] Strength 2... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 391 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (522 × 800 pixel, file size: 60 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg)Source: http://media. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 391 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (522 × 800 pixel, file size: 60 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg)Source: http://media. ... The Soviet Navy (Russian: Военно-морской флот СССР, Voyenno-morskoy flot SSSR, literally Naval military forces of the USSR) was the naval arm of the Soviet armed forces. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... The Semel Tnua, the official logo of Hashomer Hatzair. ... Combatants Nazi Germany {SS, SD, Gestapo, Ordnungspolizei, Wehrmacht} Collaborators {Blue Police, Jewish Ghetto Police} Jewish resistance (Å»OB, Å»ZW) Polish resistance (Armia Krajowa, Gwardia Ludowa) Commanders Ferdinand von Sammern-Frankenegg Jürgen Stroop Franz Bürkl Mordechai Anielewicz† Dawid Apfelbaum† PaweÅ‚ Frenkiel† Icchak Cukierman Marek Edelman Zivia Lubetkin Henryk IwaÅ„ski... Year 1943 (MCMXLIII) was a common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Anti-Fascism is a belief and practice of opposing all forms of Fascism. ... A resistance movement is a group or collection of individual groups, dedicated to fighting an invader in an occupied country or the government of a sovereign nation through either the use of physical force, or nonviolence. ... For other organizations known as the Red Army, see Red Army (disambiguation). ...

On the opposite side, Hitler Youth (Hitlerjugend) was an official organization in Nazi Germany that trained youth physically and indoctrinated them with Nazi ideology. By the end of World War II, members of the Hitler Youth were taken into the army at increasingly younger ages. During the Battle of Berlin in 1945 they were a major part of the German defenses. This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... National Socialism redirects here. ... Combatants Soviet Union Communist Poland Nazi Germany Commanders 1st Belorussian Front – Georgiy Zhukov 2nd Belorussian Front – Konstantin Rokossovskiy 1st Ukrainian Front – Ivan Konev Army Group Vistula – Gotthard Heinrici then Kurt von Tippelskirch[2] Army Group Centre – Ferdinand Schörner Berlin Defense Area – Helmuth Reymann then Helmuth Weidling #[3] Strength 2...

In some cases, youth organizations were, and still are, militarized in order to instill discipline in their ranks, sometimes to indoctrinate them with propaganda and prepare for subsequent military service. To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Soviet Propaganda Poster during the World War II. The text reads Red Army Fighter, SAVE US! Chinese propaganda poster from during the Cultural Revolution. ...

Vietnam

12 year old ARVN soldier with M-79 grenade launcher, Tan Son Nhut, 1968 (Vietnam War)

Main article: Vietnam War

During the Vietnam War, American soldiers reported (and US military sources documented) a number of incidents where Vietnamese children were given hand grenades and/or explosives and used as weapons against American troops. In one variation, a young girl is instructed to throw a hand grenade (with or without pulling the pin to activate it first, depending on whether direct or psychological casualties are intended.) In another variation, children had explosives strapped to their bodies and were encouraged to mingle with American soldiers, with detonation either by a mechanical device or by remote control. The frequency of such incidents, and whether deadly force was necessary as often as it was actually used, is hotly debated; critics claim the military cited such incidents to justify use of deadly force against children.^{[citation needed]} Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 489 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (1589 × 1946 pixel, file size: 3. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 489 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (1589 × 1946 pixel, file size: 3. ... The Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) was a military component of the armed forces of the Republic of Vietnam (commonly known as South Vietnam). ... The M79 is a 40 x 46 mm grenade launcher that first appeared during the Vietnam war. ... Hồ Chí Minh International Airport (also called Tân Sơn Nhất International Airport) is Vietnams largest international airport. ... Combatants Republic of Vietnam United States Republic of Korea Thailand Australia New Zealand The Philippines National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam Democratic Republic of Vietnam People’s Republic of China Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea Strength US 1,000,000 South Korea 300,000 Australia 48,000... Combatants Republic of Vietnam United States Republic of Korea Thailand Australia New Zealand The Philippines National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam Democratic Republic of Vietnam People’s Republic of China Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea Strength US 1,000,000 South Korea 300,000 Australia 48,000... Combatants Republic of Vietnam United States Republic of Korea Thailand Australia New Zealand The Philippines National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam Democratic Republic of Vietnam People’s Republic of China Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea Strength US 1,000,000 South Korea 300,000 Australia 48,000...

Sierra Leone

Thousands of children were recruited and used by all sides during Sierra Leone’s conflict (1993 -2002), including the Revolutionary United Front (RUF), the AFRC, and the pro-government Civil Defense Forces (CDF). Children were often forcibly recruited, given drugs and used to commit atrocities. Thousands of girls were also recruited as soldiers and often subjected to sexual exploitation. Many of the children were survivors of village attacks, while others were found abandoned. They were used for patrol purposes, attacking villages, and guarding workers in the diamond fields. In his book “A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Child Soldier,” Ishmael Beah chronicles his life during the conflict in Sierra Leone. The Revolutionary United Front (RUF) was a rebel army that fought a failed ten-year insurrection in Sierra Leone, starting in 1991 and ending in 2002. ... Cover of Beahs book, A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier Ishmael Beah (b. ...

In June 2007, the Special Court for Sierra Leone found three accused men from the rebel Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC) guilty of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and other serious violations of international humanitarian law, including the recruitment of children under the age of 15 years into the armed forces. With this, the Special Court became the first-ever UN backed tribunal to deliver a guilty verdict for the military conscription of children.^[1]

Iran-Iraq War

During the later stages of the Iran-Iraq War, both sides were accused of using teenaged children to fill out the ranks of soldiers depleted by years of warfare. During that war, Iran was accused of using children to clear minefields by having them run or bicycle through the fields.^{[citation needed]} Combatants  Iran Iraq Commanders Ruhollah Khomeini, Abolhassan Banisadr, Ali Shamkhani, Mostafa Chamran Saddam Hussein, Ali Hassan al-Majid Strength 305,000 soldiers 500,000 Passdaran and Basij militia 900 tanks 1,000 armored vehicles 3,000 artillery pieces 470 aircraft 750 helicopters[1] 190,000 soldiers 5,000 tanks 4... “Minefield” redirects here. ... Bicycle infantry are infantry soldiers who maneuver on the battlefield using bicycles. ...

Israeli-Palestinian conflict

Main article: Child suicide bombers in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict

Child soldiers have also been used in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. According to the Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers "2004 Global Report on the Use of Child Soldiers", there were at least nine documented suicide attacks involving Palestinian minors between October 2000 and March 2004:^[2] "There was no evidence of systematic recruitment of children by Palestinian armed groups. However, children are used as messengers and couriers, and in some cases as fighters and suicide bombers in attacks on Israeli soldiers and civilians. All the main political groups involve children in this way, including Fatah, Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine."^[3] According to Israeli security forces, there have been 229 cases of minors involved in militant activity.^{[citation needed]} To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Israel, with the West Bank, Gaza Strip and Golan Heights The Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which is often claimed to be at the heart of the Arab-Israeli conflict, is an ongoing dispute between two peoples, Jewish Israelis and Arab Palestinians, who both claim the right to sovereignty over the Land... The Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers was formed in June 1998 to advocate for the adoption of, and adherence to, national, regional and international legal standards (including an Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child) prohibiting the military recruitment and use in hostilities... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Fatah (Arabic: ); a reverse acronym from the Arabic name Harakat al-Tahrir al-Watani al-Filastini (literally: Palestinian National Liberation Movement) is a major secular Palestinian political party and the largest organization in the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), a generally secular multi-party confederation. ... Hamas (Arabic: ; acronym: Arabic: , or Harakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiyya or Islamic Resistance Movement,[1]) is a Palestinian Sunni Islamist organization. ... Islamic Jihad (Arabic: ‎, Harakat al-Jihad al-Islami) is a terrorist Islamist group based in the Syrian capital, Damascus. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... The Israeli Security Forces are several organizations collectively responsible for Israels security. ...

Arab journalist Huda Al-Hussein wrote in the London newspaper Al-Sharq Al-Awsat on October 27, 2000: "While UN organizations save child-soldiers, especially in Africa, from the control of militia leaders who hurl them into the furnace of gang-fighting, some Palestinian leaders… consciously issue orders with the purpose of ending their childhood, even if it means their last breath."^[4]

In an interview with the Kuwaiti newspaper Azzaman on June 20, 2002, Mahmoud Abbas condemned the practice, saying that he opposed "that little children go to die", stating that "[i]t is a horrible thing. At least 40 children in Rafah became cripples after their hands were blown off by pipe bombs. They received 5 shekels [slightly over $1] to throw them" (Quoted in the Jordanian newspaper Alrai)^{[5][citation needed]} is the 171st day of the year (172nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Also see: 2002 (number). ... Mahmoud Abbas (Arabic: ) (born March 26, 1935), commonly known by the kunya Abu Mazen (ابو مازن), was elected President of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) on January 9, 2005, and took office on January 15, 2005. ... Rafah (Arabic: رفح Hebrew: רפיח) is a town in the Gaza Strip, on the Egyptian border, and a nearby town on the Egyptian side of the border, on the Sinai Peninsula. ... This does not cite its references or sources. ... Silver half-shekel struck in the Greek colony of Taras, during the Punic occupation. ...

On 23 May, 2005, Amnesty International reiterated its calls to Palestinian armed groups to put an immediate end to the use of children in armed activities: "Palestinian armed groups must not use children under any circumstances to carry out armed attacks or to transport weapons or other material." ^[6] is the 143rd day of the year (144th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Amnesty International (commonly known as Amnesty or AI) is a pressure group that promotes human rights. ...

International law

International human rights law

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, Art. 38, (1989) proclaimed: "State parties shall take all feasible measures to ensure that persons who have not attained the age of 15 years do not take a direct part in hostilities." The Optional protocol on the involvement of children in armed conflict to the Convention that came into force in 2002 stipulates that its State Parties "shall take all feasible measures to ensure that persons below the age of 18 do not take a direct part in hostilities and that they are not compulsorily recruited into their armed forces".^[7] The Optional Protocol further obligates states to "take all feasible measures to prevent such recruitment and use, including the adoption of legal measures necessary to prohibit and criminalize such practices." (Art 4, Optional Protocol)^[8] Likewise under the Optional Protocol states are required to demobilize children within their jurisdiction who have been recruited or used in hostilities, and to provide assistance for their physical and psychological recovery and social reintegration. (Art 6(3) Optional Protocol) ^[9] The foundation of the U.N. The United Nations (UN) is an international organization whose stated aims are to facilitate co-operation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress and human rights issues. ... Convention on the Rights of the Child Opened for signature 20 November 1989 in - Entered into force September 2, 1990 Conditions for entry into force 20 ratifications or accessions (Article 49) Parties 193 (only 2 non-parties: USA and Somalia) The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child... The Optional protocol on the involvement of children in armed conflict is a protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child adopted by General Assembly of the United Nations on 25 May 2000 (resolution A/RES/54/263). ...

In addition, the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC), adopted in July 1998, considers the recruitment of children under the age of 15 or their use in hostilities a war crime, whether carried out by members of national forces or by non-state armed groups. (See section on Sierra Leone)^{[citation needed]} Official logo of the ICC. The International Criminal Court (ICC) was established in 2002 as a permanent tribunal to prosecute individuals for genocide, crimes against humanity, crime of aggression, and war crimes, as defined by several international agreements, most prominently the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. ...

On July 26, 2005, the United Nations Security Council unanimously passed UN Security Council Resolution 1612, the sixth in a series of resolutions about children and armed conflict.^[10] Resolution 1612 established the first comprehensive monitoring and reporting system for enforcing compliance among those groups using child soldiers in armed conflict.^[11] is the 207th day of the year (208th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... UN Security Council Resolution 1612, which implements a monitoring and reporting mechanism regarding the use of child soldiers, was adopted unanimously by the United Nations Security Council on 26 July 2005. ...

International humanitarian law

According to Article 77.2 of the Additional Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, and relating to the Protection of Victims of International Armed Conflicts, adopted in 1977: Protocol I: Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, and relating to the Protection of Victims of International Armed Conflicts. ...

The Parties to the conflict shall take all feasible measures in order that children who have not attained the age of fifteen years do not take a direct part in hostilities and, in particular, they shall refrain from recruiting them into their armed forces. In recruiting among those persons who have attained the age of fifteen years but who have not attained the age of eighteen years, the Parties to the conflict shall endeavour to give priority to those who are oldest.

As the ICRC commentary on Protocol I makes clear, this is not a complete ban on the use of children in conflict. The ICRC had suggested that the Parties to the conflict should "take all necessary measures", which became in the final text, "take all feasible measures" which is not a total prohibition on their doing so because feasible should be understood as meaning "capable of being done, accomplished or carried out, possible or practicable". Refraining from recruiting children under fifteen does not exclude child who volunteer for armed service. During the negotiations over the clause "take a part in hostilities" the word "direct" was added to it, this opens up the possibility that child volunteers could be involved indirectly in hostilities, gathering and transmitting military information, helping in the transportation of arms and munitions, provision of supplies etc.^[12]

Article 4.3.c of Protocol II, additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, and relating to the Protection of Victims of Non-International Armed Conflicts, adopted in 1977, states "children who have not attained the age of fifteen years shall neither be recruited in the armed forces or groups nor allowed to take part in hostilities". Protocol II: Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, and Relating to the Protection of Victims of Non-International Armed Conflicts. ...

International labour law

Forced or compulsory recruitment of children for use in armed conflict, is one of the predefined worst forms of child labour in terms of the International Labour Organisation's Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999, adopted in 1999. The Convention concerning the Prohibition and Immediate Action for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour, known in short as the Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, was adopted by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) in 1999 as ILO Convention No 182. ... For other meanings of the ILO abbreviation, see ILO (disambiguation). ... The Convention concerning the Prohibition and Immediate Action for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour, known in short as the Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, was adopted by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) in 1999 as ILO Convention No 182. ...

In terms of the Worst Forms of Child Labour Recommendation ratifying countries should ensure that forced or compulsory recruitment of children for use in armed conflict is a criminal offence, and also provide for other criminal, civil or administrative remedies to ensure the effective enforcement of such national legislation (Article III(12) to (14)). The Worst Forms of Child Labour Recommendation was adopted by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) in 1999 as ILO Recommendation No 190. ...

Child soldiers in the world today

"Child Soldier in the Ivory Coast", Gilbert G. Groud, 2007, mixed materials: tusche and wax crayon

According to the website of Human Rights Watch as of July 2007: Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 487 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (1080 × 1329 pixel, file size: 179 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Côte dIvoire Military use... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 487 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (1080 × 1329 pixel, file size: 179 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Côte dIvoire Military use... Côte dIvoire (often called Ivory Coast in English; see below about the name) is a country in West Africa. ... October 2006 in Switzerland Gilbert G. Groud (* ~1956 in Toulepleu, Côte dIvoire) is a painter, illustrator and author from Côte dIvoire. ... Human Rights Watch Banner Human Rights Watch is a United States-based international non-government organization that conducts research and advocacy on human rights. ...

Under the terms of Protocol I of the Geneva Conventions, Children over the age of fifteen who have volunteered can be used as spotters, observers, message-carriers. (see above International humanitarian law) Protocol I: Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, and relating to the Protection of Victims of International Armed Conflicts. ...

In cases where children have taken part in combat, recruiting parties have taken active measures to counter their reluctance, such as forcing child recruits to commit brutalities and to take drugs like marijuana, amphetamines and "brown-brown" that inhibit guilt and fear. Propaganda, revenge and fear of being left alone influence children to "voluntarily" stay in the army. Children have been both participants in and victims of atrocities. The recruitment of children as soldiers is a practice that has survived into modern times.^{[citation needed]} A psychoactive drug or psychotropic substance is a chemical substance that acts primarily upon the central nervous system where it alters brain function, resulting in temporary changes in perception, mood, consciousness and behavior. ... Cannabis, (also known as marijuana, [1] reefer, pot, weed, grass, or ganja [2] in its herbal form and hashish in its resinous form[3]) is a psychoactive product of the plant Cannabis sativa L. subsp. ... Amphetamine or Amfetamine (Alpha-Methyl-PHenEThylAMINE), also known as, beta-phenyl-isopropylamine, and benzedrine, is a prescription stimulant commonly used to treat Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adults and children. ... Brown-brown is a form of powdered cocaine, cut with gunpowder. ... Soviet Propaganda Poster during the World War II. The text reads Red Army Fighter, SAVE US! Chinese propaganda poster from during the Cultural Revolution. ...

Africa

As of 2007, Africa has the largest number of child soldiers with up to 200,000 believed to be involved in hostilities. Child soldiers are currently being used in armed conflict in: Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... A world map showing the continent of Africa Africa is the worlds second-largest and second most-populous continent, after Asia. ...

• Burundi – Hundreds of child soldiers serve in the rebel Forces Nationales pour la libération (FNL), an armed rebel group.

• Central African Republic – Hundreds of children serve in armed rebel groups, including the Armée Populaire pour la Restauration de la République et de la Démocratie (APRD) and in the Union des Forces Démocratiques pour le Rassemblement (UFDR).

• Chad – Child soldiers are fighting with the Chadian armed forces, Sudanese rebel movements operating in Chad, and Tora Boro militias.

• Cote d'Ivoire – Children serve in armed militia groups linked to the government, including the Front de liberation du Grnad Ouest (FLGO), the Mouvement ivoirien de liberation oust de Côte d’Ivoire (MILOCI) , the Alliance patriotique de l’ethnie Wé (APWé) and the Union patriotique de résistance du Grand Ouest (UPRGO). The rebel Forces armées des Forces nouvelles (FAFN) also have child soldiers.

• Democratic Republic of Congo – Thousands of children serve in government forces (Forces armées de la République démocratique du Congo (FARDC), as well as the rebel Forces démocratiques de liberation de Rwanda (FDLR) and various militias. At the height of DRC’s war, the UN estimated that more than 30,000 children were fighting with various parties to the conflict.

• Guinea – Both Guinean insurgents and Guinean government forces have recruited children, including from refugee camps.

• Rwanda – Child soldiers have been used by Rwandan government forces and paramilitaries, as well as government-backed forces operating within the Democratic Republic of Congo. Some child recruitment is still reported in refugee camps.

• Somalia – Nearly all factional militias in Somalia use child soldiers, with an estimated 200,000 children involved over a 14 year period. In late 2006, Islamic forces used large numbers of child soldiers to fight against Ethiopian forces, reportedly resulting in the death of “countless” teenage fighters.

• Sudan – Thousands of children fight with the Sudan Armed Forces, the Sudan People’s Liberation Army and their Joint Integrated Units. In Darfur, the Sudan Armed Forces, the Janjaweed militias, Sudan Liberation Army factions and paramilitary forces reportedly use at least 7000 child soldiers in the region. The Lord’s Resistance Army, a Ugandan-based group, also has child soldiers in Sudan.

• Uganda – Over the past twenty years, the rebel Lord’s Resistance Army has abducted more than 30,000 boys and girls as soldiers. Girls are often forced to be sex slaves. The government has recruited small numbers of children into its forces, including Local Defense Units.

See interactive Map of Child Soldiers Darfur (Arabic: , lit. ... A Janjaweed miltiaman mounted The weed (Arabic: جنجويد; variously transliterated Janjawid, Janjawed, Jingaweit, Jinjaweed, Janjawiid, Janjiwid, Janjaweit, etc. ... The Sudan Liberation Army or SLA is a band of armed insurgents based in southern Sudan. ... The Lords Resistance Army (LRA)[1], formed in 1987, is a rebel paramilitary group operating mainly in northern Uganda. ...

Asia

In 2004 the Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers reported that in Asia thousands of children are involved in fighting forces in active conflict and ceasefire situations in Afghanistan, Burma, India, Indonesia, Laos, Philippines, Nepal and Sri Lanka, although government refusal of access to conflict zones has made it impossible to document the numbers involved.^[14] In 2004 Burma was unique in the region, as the only country where government armed forces forcibly recruit and use children between the ages of 12 and 18.^[14]

In 2004 the Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers reported that in Chechnya, under-18s are believed to be involved in a range of armed groups in the war against Russia, although the numbers are impossible to establish given a virtual ban on media and human rights organizations from operating in the region. Some children allegedly took part in suicide bombings.^[15] The Chechen Republic (IPA: ; Russian: , Chechenskaya Respublika; Chechen: , Noxçiyn Respublika), or, informally, Chechnya (; Russian: ; Chechen: , Noxçiyçö), sometimes referred to as Ichkeria, Chechnia, Chechenia or Noxçiyn, is a federal subject of Russia. ...

Sri Lanka

Main article: Military use of children in Sri Lanka

In Sri Lanka, thousands of children are believed to be in the ranks of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE),^[16] a rebel group banned as a terrorist organization by a number of countries including the United States, Canada, India and the European Union. Military use of children in Sri Lanka has been an internationally recognized problem since the inception of the Sri Lankan civil war in 1983. ... Tamil Tigers emblem The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), also known as the Tamil Tigers, is a military and political organization that has waged a violent secessionist campaign against the Sri Lankan Government since the 1970s in order to secure independence for the Tamil portions of Sri Lanka. ...

Since signing a ceasefire agreement in 2001, the latest available UNICEF figures show that the LTTE has abducted 5,666 children until July 2006, although the organization speculates that only about a third of such cases are reported to them. Sri Lankan soldiers nicknamed one unit the Baby Battalion, due to the number of children in it.^{[citation needed]} In response to widespread international condemnation of alleged children recruitment practices, the LTTE informed that they have made (taking effect in Oct. 2006) child recruitment illegal for its groups. ^[16] UNICEF Logo The United Nations Childrens Fund or UNICEF (Arabic: ; French: ; Spanish: ) was established by the United Nations General Assembly on December 11, 1946. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays full 2006 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

More recently, the para-military group known as the Karuna Group, which is apparently splinter group from the LTTE, has been held responsible for the abduction of children according to UNICEF and Human Rights Watch.^[17] A paramilitary is a group of civilians trained and organized in a military fashion. ... தமிழீழ மக்கள் விடுதலைப்புலிகள், Tamileela Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal or in English Tamileela Peoples Liberation Tigers, a political party and Para-military group formed in 2004 by break-away LTTE Military Head of Batticaloa district V. Muralitharan (Colonel Karuna). ... The word schism (IPA: or ), from the Greek σχίσμα, skhísma (from σχίζω, skhízō, to tear, to split), means a division or a split, usually in an organization or a movement. ... UNICEF Logo The United Nations Childrens Fund or UNICEF (Arabic: ; French: ; Spanish: ) was established by the United Nations General Assembly on December 11, 1946. ...

Israel

Israel lowered the compulsory military service age for all Jewish and Druze citizens from 18 to 17 in 2004. The word Jew ( Hebrew: יהודי) is used in a wide number of ways, but generally refers to a follower of the Jewish faith, a child of a Jewish mother, or someone of Jewish descent with a connection to Jewish culture or ethnicity and often a combination... Religions Druzism Scriptures Rasail al-hikmah (Epistles of Wisdom) Languages Arabic, Hebrew The Druze (Arabic: درزي, derzÄ« or durzÄ«, plural دروز, durÅ«z; ‎, Druzim; also transliterated Druz or Druse) are a Middle Eastern religious community whose traditional religion began as an offshoot of the Ismaili sect of Islam, but is unique... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Europe

Ex-Yugoslavia

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, both sexes can voluntarily join the armed forces from the age of 17. In times of war, the compulsory military service age can be dropped from 18 to 16 for males.

In Serbia, both sexes are subject to compulsory military service from the age of 17. In times of war, the compulsory military service age can be dropped to 16 for both sexes. Anthem Serbia() on the European continent() Capital (and largest city) Belgrade Official languages Serbian 1 Recognised regional languages Hungarian, Croatian, Slovak, Romanian, Rusyn 2 Albanian 3 Government Semi-presidential republic  -  President Boris Tadić  -  Prime Minister Vojislav KoÅ¡tunica Establishment  -  Formation 9th century   -  First unified state c. ...

United Kingdom

The minimum age to join the British Army is 16 and a half; parental permission is required for those under the age of 18. Soldiers are not allowed to take part in combat operations until the age of 18. In February 2007, the British government admitted that it “inadvertently” sent 17-year-old soldiers to Iraq. ^[18] The British Army is the land armed forces branch of the British Armed Forces. ...

Approximately forty percent of Britain's military forces joined when they were 16 or 17 years of age. ^[19] This military service is voluntary, leading some to suggest that the argument turns on whether a teenager has the free will and clear mind to consent to join the army. Children's rights advocates claim that children should not be exposed to the risks of military life even if they appear to be willing to do so.^{[citation needed]}

Commonwealth countries

The voluntary minimum age of 16 and a half is also standard for former British colonies like Australia, India and Singapore. Minimum voluntary age is 17 in New Zealand, but troops cannot be deployed overseas until age 18.^{[citation needed]}

North America

Canada

In Canada, people may join the reserve component of the Canadian Forces at age 16 and half with parental permission. They may not join the regular force, and will not be allowed to volunteer for a tour of duty until reaching age 18. The Canadian Forces (French: Forces canadiennes), abbreviated as CF (French: FC), are the unified armed forces of Canada. ...

United States

In the United States 17-year-olds may join the armed forces, but may not be deployed in combat situations. The United States military is based on voluntary recruitment, though minors also must have parental permission to enlist (or permission of one's legal guardian in the absence of parents). Males under eighteen years of age are not draft eligible, and females are not eligible for conscription at any age. The United States military requires all soldiers to possess a high school diploma or equivalent; this requirement may be waived for young soldiers for up to 180 days from the date of enlistment and during wartime. In spirit, these policies ensure soldier maturity similarly to laws that would explicitly ban the use of minors in combat.

However, the United States has recently come under fire for the detention and trial of child soldiers and other non-combatant minors captured during military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. Omar Khadr, a 15 year old Canadian citizen, arrested in Afghanistan in 2002, and held at Guantanamo for the past five years was to have been one of the first detainees to be charged before a military commission. Human Rights Watch charges that, “the US government incarcerated him with adults, reportedly subjected him to abusive interrogations, failed to provide him any educational opportunities, and denied him any direct contact with his family." ^[20] In 2004, three Afghan children were released from Guantanamo, believed to be between the ages of 13 and 15 at the time of their capture, to rehabilitation programs operated by UNICEF in Afghanistan.

Latin America

Columbia

Between 11,000 and 14,000 children are estimated to be involved with left-wing guerrilla groups and right-wing paramilitaries in Colombia. According to Human Rights Watch, "Approximately 80 percent of child combatants in Colombia belong to one of the two left-wing guerrilla groups, the FARC or ELN. The remainder fights in paramilitary ranks." ^[21] Human Rights Watch Banner Human Rights Watch is a United States-based international non-government organization that conducts research and advocacy on human rights. ... The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia–Peoples Army, in Spanish Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia–Ejército del Pueblo, also known by the acronym of FARC or FARC-EP is a communist revolutionary and illegally armed terrorist organization in Colombia. ... Ejército de Liberación Nacional (usually abbreviated to ELN), or National Liberation Army, is a revolutionary, Marxist, insurgent guerrilla group that has been operating in several regions of Colombia since 1964. ... A paramilitary organization is a group of civilians trained and organized in a military fashion. ...

Bolivia

The government of Bolivia has acknowledged that children as young as 14 may have been forcibly conscripted into the armed forces during recruitment sweeps. ^[22] About 40% of the Bolivian army is believed to be under the age of 18, with half of those below the age of 16.^[23]

Haiti

In Haiti an unknown number of children participate in various loosely-organized armed political groups that are engaged in violence. ^[24]

Movement to stop military use of children

Recently, a strong international movement has emerged to put an end to the practice. See, for example, Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers. The Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers was formed in June 1998 to advocate for the adoption of, and adherence to, national, regional and international legal standards (including an Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child) prohibiting the military recruitment and use in hostilities...

After the war, bringing children or former child soldiers into civil society is difficult, as they have received little education, are accustomed to the use of violence, and often the children have lost ties to their families.

See also

• Child Voice International
• Ender's Game
• Human shield
• Human Rights Watch
• Ishmael Beah
• Lord's Resistance Army
• Lwów Eaglets
• Minors detained in the global war on terror
• Trafficking in children
• Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention
• Invisible Children Inc.
• Blood Diamond (film)

Enders Game (1985) is the best-known novel by Orson Scott Card. ... Human shield is a military and political term describing the presence of civilians in or around combat targets to deter an enemy from attacking those targets. ... Human Rights Watch Banner Human Rights Watch is a United States-based international non-government organization that conducts research and advocacy on human rights. ... Cover of Beahs book, A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier Ishmael Beah (b. ... Combatants Uganda Peoples Defence Force Lords Resistance Army Commanders Yoweri Museveni Joseph Kony The Lords Resistance Army (LRA),[1] formed in 1987, is a rebel guerrilla army operating mainly in northern Uganda and parts of Sudan. ... Lwów Eaglets; Defenders of the Cemetery, painting by Wojciech Kossak, 1926, oil on canvas, 90 x 120 cm, Polish Military Museum, Warsaw Battle of Zadwórze, a 1929 painting by Stanisław Kaczor-Batowski 1929(Polish Military Museum) Lwów Eaglets (Polish: ) is a term of affection applied to... The United States has disputed the number of minors detained in the global war on terror. ... Trafficking in the context of trafficking of human beings is a term to define the recruiting, harbouring, obtaining and transportation of a person by use of force, fraud, or coercion for the purpose of subjecting them to involuntary acts, such as acts related to commercial sexual exploitation (including prostitution) or... The Convention concerning the Prohibition and Immediate Action for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour, known in short as the Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, was adopted by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) in 1999 as ILO Convention No 182. ... Invisible Children Inc. ... Blood Diamond is an Academy Award-nominated 2006 adventure/drama/thriller film. ...

References

The Portable Document Format (PDF) is the file format created by Adobe Systems, in 1993, for document exchange. ... A kibibyte (a contraction of kilo binary byte) is a unit of information or computer storage, commonly abbreviated KiB (never kiB). 1 kibibyte = 210 bytes = 1,024 bytes The kibibyte is closely related to the kilobyte, which can be used either as a synonym for kibibyte or to refer to... is the 171st day of the year (172nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... The Associated Press, or AP, is an American news agency, the worlds largest such organization. ... is the 171st day of the year (172nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... The Washington Post is the largest newspaper in Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States. ... BBC News is the department within the BBC responsible for the corporations news-gathering and production of news programmes on BBC television, radio and online. ... is the 171st day of the year (172nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... The Portable Document Format (PDF) is the file format created by Adobe Systems, in 1993, for document exchange. ... The Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers was formed in June 1998 to advocate for the adoption of, and adherence to, national, regional and international legal standards (including an Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child) prohibiting the military recruitment and use in hostilities... The Portable Document Format (PDF) is the file format created by Adobe Systems, in 1993, for document exchange. ... The Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers was formed in June 1998 to advocate for the adoption of, and adherence to, national, regional and international legal standards (including an Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child) prohibiting the military recruitment and use in hostilities... The Middle East Media Research Institute (German name identical, Hebrew name המכון לחקר התקשורת המזרח התיכון, abbreviated ממרי), or MEMRI for short, is a organization... is the 143rd day of the year (144th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers was formed in June 1998 to advocate for the adoption of, and adherence to, national, regional and international legal standards (including an Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child) prohibiting the military recruitment and use in hostilities... is the 145th day of the year (146th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The Center for Defense Information is an organization dedicated to strengthening security through various methods. ... The Center for Defense Information is an organization dedicated to strengthening security through various methods. ... is the 285th day of the year (286th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is historically a committee of Swiss nationals, although non-Swiss nationals have recently been allowed (the committee appoints new members to itself to replace those who resign or die) which leads the international Red Cross movement (often simply known after its symbol... Human Rights Watch Banner Human Rights Watch is a United States-based international non-government organization that conducts research and advocacy on human rights. ... The Portable Document Format (PDF) is the file format created by Adobe Systems, in 1993, for document exchange. ... The Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers was formed in June 1998 to advocate for the adoption of, and adherence to, national, regional and international legal standards (including an Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child) prohibiting the military recruitment and use in hostilities... The Portable Document Format (PDF) is the file format created by Adobe Systems, in 1993, for document exchange. ... The Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers was formed in June 1998 to advocate for the adoption of, and adherence to, national, regional and international legal standards (including an Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child) prohibiting the military recruitment and use in hostilities... Zee News is an Indian Hindi News Channel run by Zee Network. ... is the 300th day of the year (301st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... UNICEF Logo The United Nations Childrens Fund or UNICEF (Arabic: ; French: ; Spanish: ) was established by the United Nations General Assembly on December 11, 1946. ... is the 173rd day of the year (174th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 207th day of the year (208th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Human Rights Watch Logo Human Rights Watch is a United States-based international non-governmental organization that conducts research and advocacy on human rights. ... Human Rights Watch Banner Human Rights Watch is a United States-based international non-government organization that conducts research and advocacy on human rights. ... is the 53rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

• ChildVoice International
• Invisible Children
• Teach Kids Peace
• Amnesty International campaign
• Child Soldiers & the Law: A Survey
• Human Rights Watch campaign
• HRW list of child soldier incidents
• Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers
• Interview: Children Abucted for Terrorism in Sri Lanka
• Global Report 2004 - United StatesPDF
• BBC report: Sex slavery awaits Ugandan schoolgirls
• BBC report: Ugandan army recruiting children
• BBC report: Criticism of British child soldier recruitment
• The Guardian report: Armies of girls caught up in conflict
• Children and armed conflict - UN Security Council resolution 1539 (2004). PDF
• Child Soldier Projects
• The Use of Palestinian Children in the Al-Aqsa Intifada
• PA Indoctrination of Children to Seek Heroic Death for Allah
• The Childhood Origins of Terrorism
• The International Labour Organisation's International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour on child soldiers
• EU guidelines on children and armed conflict adopted at the General Affairs Council meeting on 8 December 2003
• War Child International - Child Soldier links & resources
• Kid Soldiers of the Great War - Children in the First World War 1914-1918
• War Child UK's report on Child Soldiers in Democratic Republic of CongoPDF
• DCAF Backgrounder Child Soldiers