Children Used as Soldiers in Most Major Conflicts (New York, November 17, 2004) Hundreds of thousands of children are being used as armed pawns in at least 21 conflicts around the world, Human Rights Watch and its partners in a global coalition said in a report released today.

Global Report 2004
The Coalition to Stop the Unse of Child Soldiers produces a Global Report with information on child recruitment and use every three years. This report covers the period from April 2001 to March 2004. Country entries refer to events occurring within this period...

From Human Rights Watch:

"Today, as many as 300,000 children under the age of 18 serve in government forces or armed rebel groups. Some are as young as eight years old."

Facts about child soldiers

What you can do

The Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers works to prevent the recruitment and use of children as soldiers, to secure their demobilisation and to ensure their rehabilitation and reintegration into society.

Photo gallery

Links to active groups and for information on child soldiers, from The Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers