Progress and hurdles on the road to prevent the use of children as soldiers and to ensure their rehabilitation and reintegration

Over the past 20 years, the international child rights movement has, without a doubt, spurred the development of international law, policies, and programs for children. The movement has been extremely effective at putting children affected by conflict – and especially child soldiers – on the map of public concern. Of course, the compelling nature of their plight almost speaks for itself. If any child has a forceful claim for increased attention and resources, it is the millions on every continent that suffer daily exposure to extreme and chronic violence, death, torture, rape, maiming, displacement, loss of home and schooling, separation from loved ones, and, in the case of scores of thousands, participation in war as soldiers, sometimes as young as 7, 8, and 9.