“The recruitment and use of children remains one of the most widespread and devastating violations we face. In 2024 alone, more than 7,400 children were recruited or used by armed forces and groups, and those are only the verified cases,” Frazier told us, just before the international day against the use of child soldiers on Thursday.
“In the last 30 years, we have separated more than 220,000 children from armed gangs.”, he emphasized.
Growing crisis in all conflicts
His office monitors approximately 26 conflict situations around the world, and the numbers tell a grim story.
“Rapes are more frequent in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nigeria, Somalia, Syria and Myanmar”Ms. Frazier explained.
“But we are also seeing worrying trends in Sudanwhere children are specifically targeted because they are considered useful as border guards, as workers and even as combatants.”
Behind those statistics, he emphasized, are young lives forever altered. “Each number in our report represents a child whose innocence has been interrupted,” he said.
From kidnapping to reintegration
Beyond documenting violations, Frazier’s office interacts directly with combatants to negotiate the release of children and their safe return to their homes.
“One of the strong points of our mandate is that We can negotiate directly with armed groups to hand over the children.“Once separated, (the children’s agency) UNICEF and our partners work on their reintegration, ensuring they receive psychosocial support, access to education and the opportunity to reclaim their childhood.”
An eleven-year-old boy sits in the bedroom of a reintegration center for recently demobilized child soldiers in Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo. (archive)
But reintegration is often riddled with stigma. “Girls who return may be rejected by their communities, especially those who return with children,” she said. “For social reasons, some girls who cannot fully reintegrate are considered damaged goods.”
Prevention and accountability
For Ms. Frazier, prevention is the ultimate goal.
“Prevention is better than cure,” he told us. “You know, that’s why we really advocate that even in times of war and armed conflict, children must stay in school. “When they don’t go to school, they become very vulnerable to recruitment, whether forced or not.”
Accountability also plays a key role. The Special Representative – who was previously Malta’s ambassador to the United Nations, including an influential stint on the Security Council – pointed to recent prosecutions before national courts and the International Criminal Court (ICC) as vital deterrents.
“One of the greatest tools of deterrence is justice and accountability.“he stressed. “When warlords or leaders of armed groups are prosecuted and sentenced for recruiting children, including in national courts and in at least three cases before the International Criminal Court, a powerful message is sent. “Justice and accountability act as strong deterrents, showing armed groups that this crime has real consequences.”
A 13-year-old girl formerly associated with an armed group in the Central African Republic holds a simulated weapon.
Her conviction is rooted in field experience, from meeting survivors of Boko Haram kidnappings in Nigeria to hearing from women once enslaved by the Lord’s Resistance Army in Uganda.
“You hear about a 13-year-old girl holding her baby and you realize how deeply conflict steals childhood,” she said.
“When you hear these stories, you realize that the numbers in our reports are individuals: children who were supposed to have their entire future ahead of them,” he said.
epitome of innocence
Mrs. Frazier spoke emotionally about why she is so committed to this cause.
“Children are the personification of innocence,” he said. “They have not taken sides in any war, but their innocence and their childhood have been interrupted. Children should never be treated as collateral for war.”
Children are the epitome of innocence.
He added that the path to lasting peace begins with protecting and empowering those same children.
“The sustainability of peace depends on the right of children to move forward. When they return from conflict, they must have access to education and the opportunity to fully integrate into society to aspire to become doctors, nurses, lawyers, politicians, engineers, and that can only be achieved through education.”
messages of hope
The Special Representative described her campaign Show that you matterwhich invites children affected by war to send messages to leaders, folded into origami doves, a universal symbol of peace.
“A child wrote to me, ‘I still have hope for a peaceful world. Never again will a girl be the wife of a guerrilla. Never again be part of armed groups. Let’s also save childhoods and families.’ It’s such an innocent plea, but that’s what it’s all about“, said.
A young former child soldier in Sultan Kudarat, Philippines, plans to return to school.
At the end of the conversation, Ms. Frazier reiterated her belief that education, justice and hope remain the pillars of peace.
“Children should be able to continue their innocence even in times of conflict,” he said. “This is about ensuring a sustainable and peaceful future for the world.”