According to current figures from UN Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), one half of 57 million children around the world are living in countries that are torn by war and armed conflict.
Elsewhere in some war-affected areas, girls suffer from forced labour and sexual abuse.
Yet, the shadows of war are not just a story about children.
UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reports that the number of refugees worldwide has reached its highest level in the last two decades, at roughly 45.2 million people.
Every 4.1 seconds, one person was forced to leave their home due to war and armed conflict in 2012.
Meanwhile, money poured into meaningless and deadly wars continues to rise. The US Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that the Pentagon has thrown US$2.4 trillion into the US wars in Iraq and Afghanistan during the last decade.
A recent message from UNESCO warns that nations need to seriously consider the negative impacts and put an end to war and armed conflict that threaten the future of humanity.
