Child soldiers. Two simple words. But they describe a world of atrocities committed against children and sometimes by children. Committed in many different countries and often hidden from the public eye. We know how devastating these experiences are for children - thanks to the courage and determination of those who have spoken out and called on the international community to take action on their behalf.

This Global Report, the third produced by the Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers, elaborates on progress over the past four years, confirming for example, that tens of thousands of child soldiers have been demobilized during this period. But as this meticulously documented report shows, tens of thousands more have remained in or been newly recruited and used in armed conflicts - primarily by non-state armed groups, but also by some national armies. Governments have failed to prevent the use of children by proxy forces and child soldiers who have escaped or been captured have been used as spies or sources of intelligence rather than provided with rehabilitation and reintegration support. Numerous governments persist in recruiting under-18 year olds into national armies, exposing them to military discipline, hazardous activity, bullying, abuse and possible deployment to war zones.

There is an urgent need to increase all our efforts toprevent and eradicate the recruitment and use of children in armed conflict. The Global Report 2008 shows that achieving this goal is far from easy. Nevertheless, there is reason for hope.