A committee made up of young people has called for the UK government to campaign to end the use of child soldiers throughout the world.

The Children's Select Committee, made up exclusively of 16 young people aged 12 to 19, compiled its report for the British government after holding conferences and workshops at the Foreign Office in London.

In the Report on Children's Rights, the committee called for a worldwide register of child sex offenders and recommended that the deployment of soldiers under the age of 15 should be a war crime.

Welcoming the report, Foreign Office minister Peter Hain said that he was "delighted" with the results and described the conclusions as "important policy recommendations".

'Mark in history'

Other recommendations include improved legislation to protect child workers and the environment, and the creation of more youth councils and forums with real powers.

The UK government, working with the international charity Save the Children, asked the committee to mark the 10th anniversary of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child by compiling the report.

Committee member Sean McGrath, 16, said: "Sixteen young people made a mark in history on November 24 1999. On the dawn of a new millennium young people were allowed to talk to those who can make a difference.

"We were allowed to ask questions and get answers. We were allowed to make suggestions, criticisms and accusations.

"Although most of this has been done before, there was one thing that made this event different - we were listened to."

In compiling its report, the committee interviewed representatives from the United Nations children's fund, UNICEF, Greenpeace, government ministers, MPs and children from across the world, some in person and some by e-mail.

Soldiers aged seven

On the subject of child soldiers, the report states: "There are 300,000 child soldiers today under the age of 18, some as young as seven.

"At this moment in time children are fighting. For example 90% of the Lord's Resistance Army in Northern Uganda consists of children between the age of 13 and 16.

"Child soldiers also include girls. Some are sent to combat zones and others are sexually abused and forced to be the wives or unpaid servants of adult soldiers.

"Children cannot leave the army easily. They are taught to kill or be killed."

The report continues: "We the select committee are particularly concerned about the sexual exploitation of children. It is estimated that about one million children in Asia alone are victims of the sex trade.

"The number of Nepalese girls forced into sexual slavery in the brothels of India has reached nearly 200,000 and in one town in Kenya some 300 girls below the age of eight are engaged in prostitution.

"We believe the register of sex offenders must be made a worldwide document so that all children are protected."