Child soldiers who have been coerced into taking up arms can be seen in the jungles of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Sri Lanka.

They were carrying guns taller than themselves and had no idea what they were doing.

No war in the world is started by children, but children are often one of the most vulnerable groups in the face of war.

War and conflict claim life and limb from many children, deny them access to education and basic health services, and increase poverty, hunger and disease.

Conflict also forces children to be separated from their parents, to leave their homes, to witness war crimes, or to become war criminals.

When war breaks out, children are often the first victims, directly or indirectly.

The war changes their lives in many ways. Even if they are not killed or disabled, they may become orphans, be kidnapped and raped, witness the death of their loved ones, or suffer violence and wandering, ultimately leaving behind limbs that cannot heal and

Emotional trauma.

At the same time, the social devastation caused by war means for children the loss of basic services such as education and health care.

Missing schools due to loss of teachers and damaged roads during war conditions abound.

Sometimes, schools can be targeted.

In September this year, more than 150 children and young people were killed in the hostage incidents at the Russian Federation's North Ossetia and Beslan No. 1 Middle Schools.

In Indonesia's Aceh province, conflicts between government forces and separatist armed forces continue, affecting local schools and children.

In May 2003 alone, 460 local schools were razed to the ground by fighting.

In Nepal, schools have become a place for anti-government armed forces to carry out propaganda and recruit recruits. Attacks and kidnappings of teachers and students in schools often occur.

In the past 10 years, the number of children suffering from war has continued unabated.

Although the international community has paid increasing attention to this issue and taken relevant rescue measures, the situation is still very serious and new conflicts are still occurring.

About nine years ago, UNICEF launched the "Ten-Point Anti-War Plan" to urge the world to pay attention to and solve the problem of children suffering from war injuries.

Today, the prohibition of using children as "cannon fodder" has become a global consensus.

The Selective Draft Convention on the Rights of the Child formulated in 2000 raised the upper age limit for conscription from 15 to 18 years old, and also called on relevant countries to increase the upper age limit for volunteer soldiers.

Thanks to the efforts of the international community, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission established after the war in Sierra Leone and other countries helped child soldiers confess their war experiences and participate in projects to treat physical and mental trauma.

As an emergency measure, UNICEF also runs psychotherapy programs for war-damaged children.

The promulgation of international legal documents cannot completely solve the problem of child soldiers.

Although relevant parties in war-torn areas have made commitments not to recruit children as soldiers, there are still big problems in the actual implementation of international conventions.

At the same time, new challenges continue to emerge.

In recent years, child abductions during wars have been on the rise, which deserves vigilance from relevant parties.

In addition, continuous help and attention are needed for disarmed child soldiers to prevent them from returning to their old careers and to smoothly reintegrate into their families, communities and society.

Grassroots efforts to reintegrate child soldiers into society are as important as the global campaign against the recruitment of children as soldiers.

Children who have served in the military are often excluded from their families and regular educational institutions, especially if they have been forced to commit acts of violence against relatives, friends and neighbours.

In addition, relevant parties need to educate relevant communities and families so that they can create conditions for the return of child soldiers and provide psychological and physical medical services.

It is also important to provide training including literacy, survival skills and labor skills for child soldiers returning to society.