Their lives should mature, as they broaden their perspectives and gain new experiences. But for many children, the reality of childhood is altogether different. Each day, countless children around the world are exposed to dangers that hamper their growth and development. Each day, millions of children suffer from the scourges of poverty and economic crisis-from hunger and homelessness, from epidemics and illiteracy, from the degradation of the environment. They suffer from the grave effects of the problems of external indebtedness and also from lack of sustained and sustainable growth in many developing countries, particularly the least developed ones.
Armed conflicts are one of the most severe crises facing children.
Often children are recruited to fight in the armed services at extremely young ages. Children as young as eight years old have been forcibly recruited to become combatants in some countries. These children are usually from impoverished families and are sent to fight in order to gain an income from the army. Parents may also send their children to fight as a way to escape the brutality of the army. In this instance, children are essentially sold to the military in order to buy protection from the army.