Children who take direct part in hostilities (acts of war). Throughout history children have been involved with militias in support roles (spies, messengers, look outs), but with the advent of lighter and more accessible modern weaponry coupled with continued moral ambiguity they have been brought into the forefront of battle. Scope: “In over twenty countries around the world, children are direct participants in war. Denied a childhood and often subjected to horrific violence, an estimated 200,000 to 300,000 children are serving as soldiers for both rebel groups and government forces in current armed conflicts.” – Human Rights Watch (2007)