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Children recruited by armed forces or armed groups, thousands of boys and girls are used as soldiers, cooks, spies and more in armed conflicts around the world..

• Protecting children in humanitarian action
• Children recruited by armed forces

Thousands of children are recruited and used in armed conflicts across the world. Between 2005 and 2022, more than 105,000 children were verified as recruited and used by parties to conflict, although the actual number of cases is believed to be much higher.

Often referred to as “child soldiers,” these boys and girls suffer extensive forms of exploitation and abuse that are not fully captured by that term. Warring parties use children not only as fighters, but as scouts, cooks, porters, guards, messengers and more. Many, especially girls, are also subjected to gender-based violence.

Children become part of an armed force or group for various reasons. Some are abducted, threatened, coerced or manipulated by armed actors. Others are driven by poverty, compelled to generate income for their families. Still others associate themselves for survival or to protect their communities. No matter their involvement, the recruitment and use of children by armed forces is a grave violation of child rights and international humanitarian law.

The recruitment and use of children by armed forces or armed groups is a grave violation of child rights and international humanitarian law.

While living among armed actors, children experience unconscionable forms of violence. They may be required to participate in harrowing training or initiation ceremonies, to undergo hazardous labour  or to engage in combat – with great risk of death, chronic injury and disability. They may also witness, suffer or be forced to take part in torture and killings. Girls, especially, can be subjected to gender-based violence .

Warring parties also deprive children of nutrition and healthy living conditions, or subject them to substance abuse, with significant consequences for their physical and mental well-being. 

These experiences take a heavy toll on children’s relationships with their families and communities.

Children who have been recruited or used by armed actors may be viewed with suspicion, or outright rejected, by their families and communities.

Whether or not children are accepted back into society depends on various factors, including their reason for association with armed actors, and the perceptions of their families and communities. Some children who attempt to reintegrate are viewed with suspicion or outright rejected, while others may struggle to fit in. Psychological distress can make it difficult for children to process and verbalize their experiences, especially when they fear stigma or how people will react. 

What’s more, families and communities may be coping with their own challenges and trauma from conflict, and have trouble understanding or accepting children who return home. Communities need support to care for their returning children – just as the thousands of boys and girls who exit armed forces each year need it to rebuild their futures.

UNICEF’S response

UNICEF partners with governments, community groups and others to address the drivers of child recruitment and stop violations before they occur.

We support the release and reintegration of thousands of children who exit armed forces and groups each year – providing a safe place for them to live upon release, as well as community-based services for case management, family tracing, reunification and psychosocial support . We also provide specialized support for survivors of gender-based violence.

What’s more, UNICEF links children and families to mental and physical health services, education, catch-up classes and vocational opportunities. In 2018, we responded to the needs of more than 13,000 child survivors.

More from UNICEF

Save the Children, UNICEF and France launch new handbook to strengthen bid to end the recruitment and use of children in conflict

A long journey: The story of Ishmael Beah

From a child in war to renowned author, human rights activist and Goodwill Ambassador

15 child soldiers released in South Sudan

Critical support for former child soldiers in South Sudan at risk from lack of funding

Call for Action to End the Detention of Children in Conflict

Unicef humanitarian practice: covid-19 technical guidance, paris principles and guidelines on children associated with armed forces or groups, paris principles and commitments on children associated with armed forces or armed groups explanatory note: what are the paris principles and commitments, paris principles and commitments on children associated with armed forces or armed groups: frequently asked questions, impact of armed conflict on children, paris principles: operational handbook, un office of the special representative of the secretary-general for children and armed conflict, optional protocol to the convention on the rights of the child on the involvement of children in armed conflict, protocol additional to the geneva conventions and relating to the protection of victims of international armed conflicts, protocol additional to the geneva conventions and relating to the protection of victims of non-international armed conflicts, reintegration of former child soldiers, girls associated with armed forces and armed groups: lessons learnt and good practices on prevention, recruitment and use, release and reintegration.

Last updated 22 December 2021

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The recruitment and use of children is a trigger to list parties to armed conflict in the annexes of the annual report of the Secretary-General on children and armed conflict.

There are many ways for children to become associated with armed forces and groups. Some children are abducted and beaten into submission, others join military groups to escape poverty, to defend their communities, out of a feeling of revenge or for other reasons.

Combat and support roles

In many conflicts children take direct part in combat. However, their role is not limited to fighting. Many girls and boys are also used in support functions that also entail great risk and hardship.

Their tasks can vary, from combatants to cooks, spies, messengers and even sex slaves. Moreover, the use of children for acts of terror, including as suicide bombers, has emerged as a phenomenon of modern warfare. Each year, the UN receives reports of children as young as 8 or 9 years old associated with armed groups.

No matter their role, child associated with parties to conflict are exposed to acute levels of violence – as witnesses, direct victims and as forced participants. Some are injured and have to live with disabilities for the rest of their lives.

Girls are also recruited and used by armed forces and groups. They have vulnerabilities unique to their gender and place in society and suffer specific consequences including, but not limited to, rape and sexual violence, pregnancy and pregnancy-related complications, stigma and rejection by families and communities.

Definition “A child associated with an armed force or armed group” refers to any person below 18 years of age who is or who has been recruited or used by an armed force or armed group in any capacity, including but not limited to children, boys and girls, used as fighters, cooks, porters, spies or for sexual purposes. It does not only refer to a child who is taking or has taken a direct part in hostilities. (Source: Paris Principles on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict 2007 )

A long healing process

Regardless of how children are recruited and of their roles, child soldiers are victims, whose participation in conflict bears serious implications for their physical and emotional well-being. They are commonly subject to abuse and most of them witness death, killing, and sexual violence. Many are forced to commit violent acts and some suffer serious long-term psychological consequences. The reintegration of these children into civilian life is an essential part of the work to help child soldiers rebuild their lives.

Within the UN system, UNICEF is in charge of the reintegration of former child soldiers and their first priority is to prepare them for a return to civilian life. Psychosocial support, education and/or training are important aspects of reintegration programmes. Attempting to reunite children with their families and communities are also essential, but sensitization and reconciliation efforts are sometimes necessary before a child is welcomed back at home.

The reintegration of former child soldiers is a long process, which needs extensive support from the international community. By helping children deeply affected by conflict, we contribute to building a peaceful future for their country. 

Optional Protocol on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict

In 2000, the UN General Assembly adopted the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict  to protect children from recruitment and use in hostilities.

The Optional protocol is a commitment that:

• States will not recruit children under the age of 18 to send them to the battlefield.
• States will not conscript soldiers below the age of 18.
• States should take all possible measures to prevent such recruitment –including legislation to prohibit and criminalize the recruitment of children under 18 and involve them in hostilities.
• States will demobilize anyone under 18 conscripted or used in hostilities and will provide physical, psychological recovery services and help their social reintegration.
• Armed groups distinct from the armed forces of a country should not, under any circumstances, recruit or use in hostilities anyone under 18.

The Protocol entered into force in 2002 and has now been ratified by a majority of the world’s countries.

Prohibition under International Law

Human rights law declares 18 as the minimum legal age for recruitment and use of children in hostilities. Recruiting and using children under the age of 15 as soldiers is prohibited under international humanitarian law – treaty and custom – and is defined as a war crime by the International Criminal Court. Parties to conflict that recruit and use children are listed by the Secretary-General in the annexes of his annual report on children and armed conflict.

We are “Children, Not Soldiers” 

In 2014, with UNICEF, the Special Representative launched the campaign “Children, Not Soldiers” to bring about a global consensus that child soldiers should not be used in conflict. The campaign was designed to generate momentum, political will and international support to turn the page once and for all on the recruitment of children by national security forces in conflict situations.

Click to read more about the 6 grave violations

The campaign received immediate support from Member States, UN, NGO partners, regional organizations and the general public. The UN Security Council and General Assembly welcomed “Children, Not Soldiers” and requested regular updates through the Special Representative’s reporting.

At the time of the launch, the countries concerned by the campaign were: Afghanistan , Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo , Myanmar , Somalia , South Sudan , Sudan and Yemen . Representatives from each of these countries attended the launch event and expressed their full support to reach the objectives of “Children, Not Soldiers” .

The campaign ended at the end of 2016, but the consensus envisioned is now a reality and thousands of child soldiers have been released and reintegrated with the assistance of UNICEF, peacekeeping and political missions, and other UN and NGO partners on the ground. All Governments concerned by the Campaign are engaged in an Action Plan process with the United Nations. Chad and the Democratic Republic of the Congo put in place all necessary measures to end and prevent the recruitment of children in their armed forces and are no longer listed. 

National campaigns to promote the objectives of “Children, Not Soldiers” have been launched in most countries concerned and beyond.