At any one time, more than 300,000 children under 18 - both girls and boys - are fighting as soldiers in more than 30 countries worldwide. In more than 85 countries many more under-18s have been recruited into government armed forces, paramilitaries, civil militia and other armed groups. Millions of children worldwide also receive military training and indoctrination in youth movements and even in their schools.
Many governments and armed groups claim to use children because of a shortage of adult recruits. …
