Worldwide there are still an estimated quarter of a million child soldiers. The Convention's aspirations are high, but the domestic implementation of its provisions has been weak. Human Rights Brief , vol. These efforts draw attention to problems facing children, but do little to correct them. Future efforts must be focused on meaningful incorporation of the Convention's provisions into the national laws of the parties to the Convention.
Women also continue to be disproportionately affected by human rights violations.
Although the international community now sees rape and other forms of sexual violence as violations of humanitarian law, perpetrators have rarely been held accountable, according to Human Rights Watch. Therefore, perpetrators have little incentive to refrain from such activity. Women in refugee camps also suffer from rape, sexual violence, and other threats to their health and safety. Even in nonconflict areas, women suffer from gender-specific human rights violations. In some countries, restrictions are placed on a woman's ability to work without spousal consent, and to own property.