Forgotten casualities of war: girls in armed conflict

This report highlights an aspect of conflict that has rarely been exposed before. Around the world, there are up to 120,000 girls, some as young as eight, who have been forced to become front-line fighters, or are otherwise supporting armed groups. This report shows how girls are being overlooked in current efforts to release children from armed groups and support their return home. It challenges existing systems and argues that the international community must fund programmes designed to meet girls' needs. The report also addresses the protection issues for children associated with armed groups and most specifically to the largely unrecognized protection requirements of girls.