Ishmael Beah is a Sierra Leonean author, human rights activist, and former child soldier. He is best known for his autobiographical novel, A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier, which tells the story of his time as a child soldier during the civil war in Sierra Leone. Beah has since become a prominent advocate for the rights of child soldiers and has spoken around the world about his experiences and the need for international action to protect children in conflict.