Child soldier is a person under the age of 18 who participates in a war or rebellion. It is impossible to know exactly how many child soldiers there are. The United Nations Children’s Fund ( UNICEF ) estimates there are 300,000 child soldiers taking part in about 30 armed conflicts. The human-rights organization Amnesty International estimates the number is in the hundreds of thousands. Children as young as six years old have been found in armies or rebel groups.
Most countries prohibit the use of child soldiers. The United Nations has outlawed forcing someone under 18 to serve in an armed force. But child soldiers may still be found in countries that officially ban them. In some countries, a person 15 or older can voluntarily join the military.
Most child soldiers are in poor countries. Countries where child soldiers have fought in modern times include Afghanistan , Angola , Burundi , Colombia , the Democratic Republic of the Congo , Guinea-Bissau , Liberia , Mozambique , Rwanda , Sierra Leone , Somalia , Sri Lanka , Sudan , and Uganda .
In many cases, the children are kidnapped and forced to serve as soldiers. In other cases, they join because there is no other way for them to survive. Some are orphans. In addition to fighting, the children may be used to carry supplies, spy, cook, or perform other duties. Many child soldiers are abused. Girls may be forced to marry older soldiers.
Some armies run by governments have been found using children. But the practice is more common among militias fighting against a government.
