Ending the Recruitment and Use of Children in Armed Conflict

Tens of thousands of children are estimated to be recruited and used in conflicts worldwide. As many as 16,000 children in South Sudan alone have been recruited and used by armed forces and groups since the start of the conflict in December 2013, and all parties to the current conflict on the ground in Yemen have engaged in widespread recruitment of children.

Children are used for various functions by armed forces and groups, including fighters, cooks, porters, messengers and spies, or they are subjected to sexual exploitation. As long as these grave violations continue, the international community has not honoured its promise to end, once and for all, the recruitment and use of children in armed conflict.

This Unicef report sets out areas where important progress has been made towards ending the recruitment and use of children in conflict, including through the Children, Not Soldiers campaign, and makes recommendations for action by governments.