UN experts raise concerns about rising recruitment of child soldiers

There is a UN commitment to protect children from being recruited as soldiers. It completed 35 years of adoption in 2024. But unfortunately, armed groups across the globe continue to increase the recruitment and use of children during times of crisis.

Instead of ending the brutal practice, armed groups are increasingly recruiting and using the young ones for armed conflict purposes. These cases are found in Colombia, Sudan, DR Congo, Somalia, Syria, Haiti, the Sahel and Mozambique.

Most of the impacted children are abducted and forcibly recruited. Most of these children are girls. “The cries of these children echo across conflict zones,” said Virginia Gamba, a senior UN official, noting that the global community is remaining silent far too often.

She called for the granting of safe and unimpeded humanitarian access to children, the implementation of international regulations, the prohibition of the military use of schools, and the prohibition and elimination of anti-personnel landmines.

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