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U.S. must get tough over child soldiers

By Jo Becker and Rachel Stohl

Updated 1609 GMT (0009 HKT) September 28, 2015

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Children sit with their rifles at a ceremony taking place in South Sudan on the issue of the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of child soldiers. The process was overseen by UNICEF and partners in February 2015.
Photos: Child soldiers around the world
Children sit with their rifles at a ceremony taking place in South Sudan on the issue of the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of child soldiers. The process was overseen by UNICEF and partners in February 2015.
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An armed Yemeni youth sits amid the rubble in December 2014, guarding the damaged house of the Iranian ambassador in the capital Sanaa.
Photos: Child soldiers around the world
An armed Yemeni youth sits amid the rubble in December 2014, guarding the damaged house of the Iranian ambassador in the capital Sanaa.
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A youngster in military uniform in the South Sudan Democratic Movement/Army in Jonglei state in March 2014. Despite the dominant image of these soldiers as young boys, it is estimated that globally as many as 40% are girls.
Photos: Child soldiers around the world
A youngster in military uniform in the South Sudan Democratic Movement/Army in Jonglei state in March 2014. Despite the dominant image of these soldiers as young boys, it is estimated that globally as many as 40% are girls.
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A young rebel fighter holds a weapon at the entrance of a house in the Syrian city of Aleppo in March 2013.
Photos: Child soldiers around the world
A young rebel fighter holds a weapon at the entrance of a house in the Syrian city of Aleppo in March 2013.
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Child soldiers from the United Wa State Army (UWSA) in the so-called southern Wa State in Myanmar.
Photos: Child soldiers around the world
Child soldiers from the United Wa State Army (UWSA) in the so-called southern Wa State in Myanmar.
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A young fighter from the Al-Shabaab militia shows his wounded hand after battling Somali government forces in Mogadishu in July 2009.
Photos: Child soldiers around the world
A young fighter from the Al-Shabaab militia shows his wounded hand after battling Somali government forces in Mogadishu in July 2009.
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A young boy fighting for the Lord's Resistance Army stands guard in South Sudan as LRA leader Joseph Kony meets with the Southern Sudan vice president in July 2006.
Photos: Child soldiers around the world
A young boy fighting for the Lord's Resistance Army stands guard in South Sudan as LRA leader Joseph Kony meets with the Southern Sudan vice president in July 2006.
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A Liberian militia child loyal to the government walks away from firing on rebel forces across a key bridge while another taunts them in Monrovia in 2003.
Photos: Child soldiers around the world
A Liberian militia child loyal to the government walks away from firing on rebel forces across a key bridge while another taunts them in Monrovia in 2003.
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A child soldier is helped by another militiaman as he puts on the traditional chief's hyena skins in an undisclosed location near Bunia in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2003.
Photos: Child soldiers around the world
A child soldier is helped by another militiaman as he puts on the traditional chief's hyena skins in an undisclosed location near Bunia in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2003.
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A Chadian child soldier stands in front of a machine gun at De Roux camp in Bangui, Central African Republic, in 2003.
Photos: Child soldiers around the world
A Chadian child soldier stands in front of a machine gun at De Roux camp in Bangui, Central African Republic, in 2003.
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Two children enrolled with Sierra Leone troops battling rebels of the Revolutionary United Front get ready to fight east of the capital of Freetown in May 2000.
Photos: Child soldiers around the world
Two children enrolled with Sierra Leone troops battling rebels of the Revolutionary United Front get ready to fight east of the capital of Freetown in May 2000.
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A 12-year-old soldier in Kamerplaw, southern Myanmar, at the headquarters of God's Army, in 2001. God's Army was a breakaway guerrilla faction of the Christian Karen National Union.
Photos: Child soldiers around the world
A 12-year-old soldier in Kamerplaw, southern Myanmar, at the headquarters of God's Army, in 2001. God's Army was a breakaway guerrilla faction of the Christian Karen National Union.
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