For more than 20 years, children have been abducted by the LRA and forced into bondage as child soldiers, sex slaves, and porters of weaponry and heavy loot. Some are held for a short time and released; others are taken to southern Sudan and held captive for years.  Approximately 80 per cent of the LRA ranks are child abductees. Estimates of the total number of abductees vary, ranging from 25,000 to 30,000. Although most are forced to commit atrocities as abductees, children are hostages taken against their own will.