Many underdeveloped countries are involved in ethnic conflicts in which many innocent, unarmed civilians are killed. In recent decades war victims who are civilians has gone up incredibly high from 5% to 90%.(Defense Monitor)  Worst of all, children are increasingly being used as combatants and fighting in these wars themselves.  In most armed conflicts right now the number of children under eighteen are active in the army, and in many countries these child soldiers are under fifteen.  (Defense Monitor) According to the most recent annual human rights report the U.S. State Department an estimated quarter of a million children, even as young as six have served in armed conflicts.  Conflicts in countries that range from Cambodia, Sudan, Angola, and Uganda.

   These children are invisible for they spend most of their time in remote conflict zones that are away from the public and media.  It's hard to find the children after wars for either they are killed, they vanish, or have been abandoned. (Defense Moniter)  What is really sad is that these children grow into teenagers and become more invisible from the outside world.  These little children become adults locked within a child's body.

    Child soldiers are usually recruited because there aren't enough adults who are available or willing to become soldiers.  Some are kidnapped, others are forced to join groups, and some even volunteer.  Once recruited as soldiers children generally are treated as adults and are often inducted into brutal  ceremonies, and are often humiliated and embarrassed. (Defense Monitor)

  Child soldiers suffer many of the same physical and psychological effects that war brings to noncombatant children.  They are separated from their parents and lose their homes.  They are exposed to violence, death, and are often permanently disabled. (Defense Monitor)  Physical injury also carries additional emotional, psychological, and social disadvantages. (Defense Monitor)  Yet the most severe long term consequences of children serving as soldiers may be their moral development.  When the fighting ends it's very hard to place these kids back in a home surrounding, or school surrounding and expect them to adjust.  They are in fear all of the time, and have a difficult time switching over from a non-violent life style if they are even to adjust at all.

  Governments must take or assist in the appropriate measures to promote children's physical and psychological recovery and social reintegration.