The Conflict

More than two million children have been killed as a result of warfare during the last ten years. Children under the age of 18—sometimes much younger—are used in warfare by 41 countries throughout the world, by governments and rebel groups. They are denied basic human rights and are often abused terribly, and the practice of training young children to destroy and kill perpetuates cycles of violence in war-torn countries. Rehabilitation of former child soldiers has been beyond the resources of many nations that use children as fighters. Enforcement of international, national, and regional laws against the use of children in warfare is very difficult.

Political

• The increase of long and turbulent civil wars within countries has escalated the problem of children being used as soldiers. Ethnic conflicts, revenge for family...