Ending the Recruitment and Use of Children in Armed Conflict

Twenty years ago, international humanitarian advocate Graça Machel released her ground breaking Report on the Impact of Armed Conflict on Children. It became a cri de coeur, drawing the attention of governments, child protection agencies and civil society. The former First Lady of Mozambique and South Africa compelled States to confront the fact that children were being used as weapons of war, and the phrase ‘child soldiers’ became a rallying call for action.

The international community called for an end to the outrage and recommended actions to protect children from recruitment and use by armed forces and armed groups. Almost a generation later, this report sets out areas where important progress has been made towards ending the recruitment and use of children in conflict, including through the Children, Not Soldiers campaign, and makes recommendations for action by governments.