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Report of a consultation with civilians and combatants in 12 countries that have endured the modern forms of war. The research included national opinion surveys, focus group discussions and face-to-face interviews. Among the findings of the report are that combatants find war a bloody, terrifying and humiliating expereince; for combatants the most painful thing about war is what happens to their families and home villages; for civilians there is an immense emotional and physical toll; the most widespread experience of civilians is the radical disruption of family life; in many countries whole societies are at war, and people at all levels are totally engaged in combat; in the past women were seen as needing protection, however now they have become part of the action often as combatants; specific protections for women and children have dissolved; children are often at the centre of conflict and may be recruited; there is little awareness of the Geneva conventions on the conduct of war in many conflict situations