Throughout this century, there have been numerous attempts to give substance and effective existence to the rights of children in armed conflicts. Humanitarian law dictates that, as civilians, children will not be targets in war, nor will they be used as soldiers. Neither of these rights has ever been implemented. Children are victims of war by indiscriminate attacks or by strategy. Children are used as soliders. The victims of wars in this century have increasingly become civilians, much of this increase due to the facts that conflicts are no longer fought on battlefields and that conflicts are often civil wars. Children may be singled out because of their high value to the society. Children are currently being used as soldiers in at least 20 ongoing conflicts. Child soldiers may be reluctant participants at first, but their fear and guilt may be transformed into rage. Rights proclaimed for children in the Geneva Convention of 1949 have not been followed. No viable structure exists for reporting violations of children's rights. The International Convention on the Rights of the Child, when completed, will provide a stronger and more precise legal instrument than a declaration, and will bring all humanitarian legislation on the rights of children into one document. To be of value this legislation needs public support, adherence, and monitoring. Without greater recognition and compliance, any right possessed by a child is not worth very much. (ABL)