Introduction

Over 300,000 child soldiers are involved in over 30 conflicts across the globe according to UNICEF counts (UNICEF Factsheet). The Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers suggests that the true number cannot be estimated since numbers are often concealed, documentation avoided, and many armed groups operate in remote areas that are not easily observed. While most child soldiers are between the ages of 14 and 18, children as young as 9 have been involved in armed conflicts in Africa, which as a region has the highest number of child soldiers (Coalition Factsheet).

Current definition of "child soldier" from UNICEF :

"A child soldier is any person under 18 years of age who is part of any kind of regular or irregular armed force or armed group in any capacity, including but not limited to cooks, porters, messengers and anyone accompanying such groups, other than family members. The definition includes girls recruited for sexual purposes and for forced marriage. It does not, therefore, only refer to a child who is carrying or has carried arms."

Cape Town Principles and Best Practices on the Recruitment of Children into the Armed Forces and on Demobilization and Social Reintegration of Child Soldiers in Africa (Cape Town, 27-30 April 1997).

Some issues this blog will attempt to address:

How long has the issue of child soldiers been on the "global agenda?" Where is the issue now in the "global agenda-cycle?" To what extent have celebrities had an impact on this issue? What role did NGOs play, and what were their early strategies? What role has the media played? Which UN agencies have been involved and in what capacity? Which governments have been more involved than others in the issue of child soldiers?