Children’s Involvement in Organized Violence
Emerging trends and knowledge gaps
Highlights
The use of children in organized violence is not a new phenomenon, yet in today's increasingly fragmented global landscape, this exploitation has taken on more complex and dangerous forms. The COVID-19 pandemic, ongoing and intensifying armed conflicts, and the accelerating effects of climate change have deepened the vulnerabilities of children worldwide. A diversified group of armed actions, including non-state armed groups, organized criminal groups and violent networks, are adapting their tactics, often recruiting, coercing or inciting children to engage in violent acts.
These developments suggest that child involvement could intensify in the context of broader global crises and technological innovations.
Efforts to counter the use of children in organized violence remain fragmented, with responses often pursued in isolation from one another. This working paper addresses the gaps in our understanding by exploring how children are drawn into violence through a socioecological lens, examining the pathways that lead them to participate across various types of armed groups.
Addressing this complex challenge requires multidisciplinary approach—rooted in the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and tailored to the unique needs of diverse contexts. The urgency of the issue demands a cohesive, global response that prioritizes the protection of the next generation.
