Child soldiers are individuals who haven’t reached adulthood (ranging from 15 to 18 years old worldwide) yet take part in military or other armed groups, primarily as victims of slavery and abuse. Throughout history children have been given orders to combat, spy, scout, and serve their commanders, and even exploited as shields and suicide bombers. The United Nations estimated 300,000 child soldiers across the world in 2000, while there are approximately hundreds of thousands of children as of 2015.
Since 1989 the UN has been imposing regulations and standards for the possible universal age minimum to be considered beyond childhood, originally starting at 15. In 2000, the UN established the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights
Since 1989 the UN has been imposing regulations and standards for the possible universal age minimum to be considered beyond childhood, originally starting at 15. In 2000, the UN established the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights