At least 300,000 children under 18 are involved in over 30 armed conflicts worldwide, as child soldiers, porters, messengers, cooks and sex slaves. All children in affected societies suffer from the direct and indirect consequences of war. Ms. Bellamy urged governments to ratify the Optional Protocol as quickly as possible, and noted that the UN Millennium Summit in New York offered an opportunity to do so. Highlighting the international focus on children in conflict this year, Ms. Bellamy noted the International Conference on War-Affected Children to be held in Winnipeg, Canada, in September. Developing minds and bodies require attention now.
Childhood is finite and, once lost, irreplaceable.