ACEI Statements on Use of Child Soldiers As an organization for
those concerned with the inherent rights, education and well-
being of children, the Association for Childhood Education
International (ACEI) has issued the following statement on the
use of children in combat: Hundreds of thousands of children
under the age of 18—more than 300,000 young people worldwide—are
engaged in deadly violence as child soldiers.1 The use of child
soldiers is illegal, morally reprehensible, a violation of
international norms and treaties, and perpetuates the abhorrent
and harmful perception that children, particularly orphans and
the poor, are expendable assets. The Association for Childhood
Education International urges governments and non-state armies
to: - Publicly condemn the use of children as decoys, lookouts,
suicide bombers, minefield testers, and other activities of
armed forces - Commit to a long-term, worldwide effort for the
disarmament and demobilization of child soldiers, and provide
physical and psychological