Red Hand Day – Against the Recruitment and Exploitation of Child Soldiers

On 12 February 2002, the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict entered into force. This Protocol prohibits the forced recruitment, training, and use of child soldiers and sets out clear minimum safeguards for voluntary recruitment under the age of 18 years.

Since then, 12 February has been internationally recognized as Red Hand Day or the International Day Against the Use of Child Soldiers. On this day, people around the world paint their hands red as a representation of the blood of children spilled during armed conflicts. Simultaneously, the red hand symbolizes a stop sign against the recruitment and exploitation of child soldiers, ‘one of the most appalling human rights abuses in the world’. Red Hand Day reminds the international community that it is responsible to stop the recruitment and use of child soldiers and to ensure that these children are released, protected, and receive the care necessary to rebuild their lives.

In 2023, there was a sharp increase in the recruitment and exploitation of child soldiers during hostilities in various regions worldwide. This trend continued in 2024 and 2025, with no decline in violations against children. Nowadays, children are also being digitally recruited and humanitarian funding to combat these practices is shrinking. Children remain the first and most vulnerable victims of armed conflicts. Support to help these victims and to protect children from recruitment and exploitation through amongst others, law enforcement, international cooperation, and other measures must increase.

For more information on child soldiers in Europe and concrete recommendations, please see the earlier report Raised Among Arms: Child Soldiers in Europe from GHRD.