Topic summary

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Since the beginning of time, groups of all kinds have been terribly affected by the horrors of war, and children are no exception. Historically, they have been exploited, and forced into armed conflicts around the world, robbing them of their childhood, education, and future. Unfortunately, this issue has not been left in the past. Between 2005 and 2022, over 150,000 children were confirmed to have been recruited and employed by various groups involved in such disputes, although it is suspected that the true number of occurrences is considerably higher. Boys and girls at such young ages join the armed forces for diverse motives. Some of them are kidnapped, threatened, or manipulated into becoming a part of military organizations. Others associate themselves for the sake of survival or to protect their communities. Poverty is also a huge factor that pushes children towards this choice to generate income for their families. Additionally, girls are overly exposed to gender-biased abuse and prone to being exploited in various ways within these armed groups, aggravating the already terrible situation of child militarization. While living among armed entities, children endure extremely unethical acts of violence. They might be forced to undergo harsh training, participate in dangerous labor, or engage in combat, risking severe physical and psychological injuries or even death. The haunting reality of child militarization persists, with children worldwide facing exploitation, trauma, and the loss of innocence. It is essential that efforts are made to address this pressing issue and ensure that children are safeguarded from the horrors of armed conflict worldwide.