Child Soldiers
Thousands of children are serving as soldiers in armed conflicts around the world. These boys and girls, some as young as 8 years old, serve in government forces and armed opposition groups. They may fight on the front lines, participate in suicide missions, and act as spies, messengers, or lookouts. Girls may be forced into sexual slavery. Many are abducted or recruited by force, while others join out of desperation, believing that armed groups offer their best chance for survival. We are working to prevent the use of child soldiers and to hold accountable the people who send children to fight.
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Middle East/North AfricaWe write in advance of the 77th pre-session of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women and its review of the Republic of Yemen’s compliance with the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.
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Kurdistan Region of Iraq: Detained Children Tortured
Beatings, Electric Shock to Coerce ISIS Confessions
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Yemen: Key Concerns for Hodeida Battle
Poor Record of Coalition and Houthi Indiscriminate Attacks and Aid Restrictions
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South Sudan: Warring Parties Break Promises on Child Soldiers
UN, AU Need to Impose Sanctions, Get Court Running
News
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Record Number of Countries on US Child Soldier Blacklist
14 Governments Face Possible Military Sanctions
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Stop Backsliding on Use of Child Soldiers
Treaty’s 20th Anniversary Shows Uneven Progress, Need for Improvement
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Iraq’s ISIS Trials Don’t Deliver Justice – Including for Children
UN Report Finds Unfair Trials, Torture, Overreliance on Confessions
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Iraq: ISIS Child Suspects Arbitrarily Arrested, Tortured
Children Should Be Rehabilitated, Reintegrated
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Kurdistan Region of Iraq: Detained Children Tortured
Beatings, Electric Shock to Coerce ISIS Confessions
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The Urgent Need – and Hope – for Protecting Children in War
New Report Suggests Ways to Strengthen International Law
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Key Steps Taken to End Use of Child Soldiers in Syria
Forces in Northeast Issue Order to Prohibit Recruitment, Verify Ages
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Syria: Armed Group Recruiting Children in Camps
People’s Protection Units Enlist Under 18s from Vulnerable Families
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