Children living in war zones are more vulnerable to all kinds of abuses, including recruitment to serve in government forces and armed opposition groups. The use of children in armed conflict constitutes a violation of human rights, a war crime and one of the worst forms of child labor, defined by ILO Convention No. 182 as forced recruitment or compulsory restriction of children under 18 years of age for use in armed activities. conflict. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why violent video games should not be banned"? Get the original essay UNICEF defines child soldiers as "any child -- boy or girl -- under the age of eighteen , which is part of some species. or a regular or irregular armed force or an armed group in any capacity. According to Human Rights Watch, thousands of children are currently serving as soldiers in armed conflicts around the world. Some of them are only 7 years old. Children are often kidnapped, bribed or forcibly recruited to join armed groups. However, many of them join out of revenge, out of desperation, for protection, shelter and food, or to escape poverty. Child soldiers are a global phenomenon that goes back deep into history. In 2000, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, on the involvement of children in armed conflict, as an additional protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child. child (Wikipedia). The treaty by which states agree to prohibit conscription into the military of children under the age of 18 and to ensure that military volunteers under the age of 18 are exempt from directly participating in hostilities. According to Child Soldiers International, most countries in Europe and Africa have now adopted Straight 18, which prohibits people under the age of 18 from joining state armed groups. However, Australia, China, France, Germany, Saudi Arabia and the United States allow enlistment from the age of 17. Brazil, Canada and the United Kingdom allow enlistment from the age of 16. act as spies, messengers or bomb makers, serve as human shields and are used for sexual purposes. For example, during the Iran-Iraq War, child soldiers were sent in waves over minefields. Children are very useful to armed groups for several reasons: they are confident, vulnerable, efficient, easy to manipulate, learn quickly, are cheap, easily expandable, persistent - often in combat under the influence of drugs, pose unique challenges to professional armies by adding confusion to the battlefields and causing sympathetic hesitation among opposing forces. When the children survive, they may face many difficulties in the future after being a soldier at such a young age. As soldiers, children often participate in or witness horrific atrocities such as rape, beheadings and burning alive. Children live in a context of trauma and can suffer from a variety of mental health disorders. Many soldiers die and the rest are usually seriously mutilated. War disrupts a child's development, deprives them of childhood, takes away their opportunity to be educated and permanently influences their future. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized article from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay These children's rights are violated daily and there are many ways we can help.