A child soldier is defined as anyone under the age of eighteen who is part of any kind of regular or irregular armed force or armed group in any capacity.
Five facts about Child Soldiers:
It is estimated that some 300,000 children are involved in over 30 different conflicts worldwide.
Since 2000, the participation of child soldiers has been reported in most armed conflicts and in almost every region of the world.
Girls make up an estimated 10 to 30 percent of child soldiers used for fighting and other purposes.
The following countries have reported use of child soldiers since 2011: Afghanistan, Colombia, India, Iraq, Israel, Libya, Mali, Pakistan, Thailand, Sudan, Syria, Yemen, and more.
Children who are not forced to be soldiers volunteer themselves because they feel societal pressure and are under the impression that volunteering will provide a form of income, food, or security, and willingly join the group.