250,000
Every year worldwide 250,000 children are actively involved in wars and armed conflict. 1 out of every 10 soldiers is a child. Children below the age of 18 years of age are involved in 68% of current or recently ended armed conflicts. 80% of these chidlren are estimated to be younger than 15 years of age. 

Watch real stories from former child soldiers who have been through our programmes.

How are they recruited?
The children serve in government armies or in another organized armed group, such as militias, guerrilla groups and paramilitaries. Children from poor families, orphans or refugees and children who are not attending school are particularly at risk for being recruited.

Violent surroundings
Child soldiers are actually trained to fight in wars and conflicts. They are made to to kill, plunder and rape. Some of them are made to work as porters, cooks, spies, or guards or are forced to become sex slaves to (several) soldiers. Living amongst an armed group has a major impact on the future of these children; the violent surroundings in which they grow up has its own set of rules and values. Most child soldiers are separated from their friends and families and miss out on education - a situation that can last for years and even indefinately.

Child Soldiers: a worldwide problem
Most child soldiers live in Africa - an estimated 100.000*. However, child soldiers can also be found in Asia (eg, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan), the Middle-East (eg, Israel/Palestinian territories and Iraq) and in Latin-America (eg,  Colombia). In the past 10 years, 2 million children have died during armed conflicts. In other words up to 500 children per day.

*Source: International Coalition to Stop the use of Child Soldiers. ‘Child Soldiers, some facts’

Report
The report 'Child Soldiers. The shadow of their existence' outlines known problems for child soldiers and the different tactics for child soldier recruitment. It highlights the situation in Columbia and the motives with which Colombian children join these armed groups. It also lists of actions that can be taken to change this situation and how War Child contributes to helping this cause.

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Read more background information about child soldiers.


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