Child soldiers in Monrovia, Liberia in 1996. The U.N. estimates that today, more than a quarter million children are fighting in conflicts around the world. (Photo by Reuters.)

Young, armed and deadly

For the past decade, the U.N. has tried to help the millions of child caught in conflict. What has the effort accomplished?

By Barbara Borst
Published: December 23, 2009 17:08 ET

NEW YORK – It’s a shocking if familiar image, emblematic of vicious post-Cold War conflicts: boys high on drugs, slinging automatic rifles over their slender shoulders, maiming and killing for rebel movements or even for governments.

For just over a decade, the United Nations and its partners have made a concerted effort to end the use of child soldiers.

But still...

Recent on Diplomacy:

Iran sanctions deadline passes

Tom Hundley - Middle East - January 23, 2010 09:08 ET

How long can the US and its allies wait before taking action to stop Iran's nuclear program?

China v. Google: Beijing fights back

Kathleen E. McLaughlin - China and its neighbors - January 22, 2010 11:49 ET

The Chinese government takes a swing at Hillary Clinton. How bad can this get?

Opinion: In Britain, a new PM is waiting

Michael Goldfarb - Worldview - January 22, 2010 07:39 ET

But will the world see a difference?

Back to diplomacy school for Israel?

Matt Beynon Rees - Israel and Palestine - January 21, 2010 07:16 ET

OK, the Turkish TV show was offensive, but was Israel's humiliating response helpful?

Indonesia: What do they think of the "Menteng Kid" now?

Peter Gelling - Indonesia - January 19, 2010 19:56 ET

Like other places around the world, Obama is having trouble in his old backyard.

Opinion: Nigerians press for active head of state

John Campbell - Worldview - January 19, 2010 09:32 ET

Inactivity of President Yar'Adua prevents government from responding to US security crisis.

Unesco, China and a Uighur mystery

Kathleen E. McLaughlin - China and its neighbors - January 13, 2010 06:39 ET

What are the Chinese up to in the Old City of Kashgar, the Uighur "Jerusalem"?

Meet Herman "the gray mouse" van Rompuy

Teri Schultz - European Union - January 10, 2010 22:55 ET

The EU's new president, Belgian Herman van Rompuy, faces challenges of his own and others' making.

Economic worries in Indonesia? Blame the Chinese.

Peter Gelling - Indonesia - January 10, 2010 07:56 ET

A new regional trade deal raises tensions between two rising economic powers.

Uganda's anti-homosexuality bill sparks hot debate

Gregory Branch - Africa - December 31, 2009 17:13 ET

Death penalty for gay sex is included in proposed legislation.

Opinion: How to solve a problem like Darfur

Joel Brinkley - Worldview - December 31, 2009 07:22 ET

Conversations with the Sudanese government yield nothing more than lip service. It's time to take stronger action.

Sudan divided over ICC charges against Bashir

Betwa Sharma - Africa - December 29, 2009 07:14 ET

Most support president but non-Arabs say he should be tried by international court.

Young, armed and deadly

Barbara Borst - Diplomacy - December 23, 2009 17:08 ET

For the past decade, the U.N. has tried to help the millions of child caught in conflict. What has the effort accomplished?

Climate negotiators: Do they practice what they preach?

Eric J. Lyman - Global Green - December 21, 2009 17:20 ET

Delegates to the Copenhagen conference say they live energy efficient lives — at home, anyway.

EU politics cause UK-France rift

Teri Schultz - European Union - December 15, 2009 06:44 ET

The appointment of a new European Commission every five years sees countries jockey for key slots.

Turkey's high court nixes pro-Kurd party, sparks turbulence

Nichole Sobecki - Turkey - December 12, 2009 14:09 ET

With Friday’s ruling DTP took the dubious honor of being the 25th political party closed down in Turkey since 1962.

USAID: Understaffed and overwhelmed in Afghanistan

C.M. Sennott - Afghanistan - December 11, 2009 12:12 ET

Obama's troop surge fails to address how to improve delivery of aid.

Full Frame: Family of man

Paul S. Rockower - Full Frame - December 11, 2009 09:33 ET

The 21st-century family of man: photography as public diplomacy.

Editor's note

News Desk - Diplomacy - December 8, 2009 23:03 ET

Relating to GlobalPost's coverage of the UN report on conflict minerals in the DRC.

Opinion: Explaining Turkey’s high-risk activism

Ronald H. Linden - Worldview - December 7, 2009 14:37 ET

Turkey’s search for its own path is accompanied by significant risks.

Global Blogs:

Why the U.N. Human Rights Council ignores IDF’s life-saving in Haiti

Staff, UN Watch blog - Diplomacy - January 24, 2010 18:16 ET

In the video below, the CNN reporter expresses amazement at the extraordinary contribution made by the Israel Defense Forces’ medical team in rescuing and healing Haiti’s earthquake...

Small Wars Journal on Military Response to Haiti

The "UN Dispatch" blog authors - Diplomacy - January 24, 2010 16:31 ET

At Small Wars Journal, Gary Anderson offers some advice to military personnel trying to provide humanitarian assistance in Haiti. At Small...

Defense Secretary Robert Gates Confirms Blackwater in Pakistan

Nasir Khan Blog - Diplomacy - January 23, 2010 10:45 ET

by Jeremy Scahill, Rebel Reports, Jan 21, 2010 In an interview with the Pakistani TV station Express TV, Defense Secretary Robert Gates confirmed that the private security firms Blackwater and...

This Week's WPR Video Highlights

The authors, "World Politics Review" blog - Diplomacy - January 22, 2010 17:31 ET

Here are a few of this week's highlights from WPR's video section:- Minister Mizuho Fukushima, leader of Japan's small Social Democratic Party, has rejected plans to build a new U.S. Marine base on...

Google vs China

The Foreign Policy Watch Team - Diplomacy - January 21, 2010 21:19 ET

If you're an international relations theorist (and that's a job I wouldn't wish on anyone), this article from the Wall Street Journal should really get you excited. It's a story that hints at all those fun buzzwords: diminished state sovereignty, the rise of non-state actors, a...

Year One of Obama’s Foreign Policy

Joel Davis, US Role in the World Blog (Foreign Policy Assoc.) - Diplomacy - January 21, 2010 19:46 ET

The news media is awash with reports on the first year anniversary of the Obama presidency. Take a look at this assortment on Google News and you will find that the assessment is grim. The...

Secretary Clinton on Internet Freedom and Iran

Niac INsight - Diplomacy - January 21, 2010 18:32 ET

In what was touted as a major policy speech announcing the State Department’s new Internet freedom initiative, Secretary of State Hilary Clinton today committed the US to a broad new effort to advance and protect the right of all people to access the Internet freely. In her...

US Miltary Turning Away Aid Flights To Haiti

Crossed Crocodiles - Diplomacy - January 23, 2010 10:00 ET

Aid flights that have been turned away from Haiti by the American military include flights from: CARICOM, the Caribbean Community, Médecins Sans Frontieres, Brazil, France, Italy, and even the U.S....

Global Diplomacy

GlobalPost's network of foreign correspondents explores global diplomacy and how nations are participating in the international community. Through powerful news reports and engaging photography and video, our team sheds light on the important negotiations, treaties and elections that are affecting America and the world at large.

International Diplomacy News

If you wish to make comments about our international diplomacy news stories, or receive periodic world news updates, please register. To access even more world diplomacy news online, subscribe to Passport, our interactive, content-rich membership service designed to give you a competitive knowledge advantage.