Protecting Childhood: Legal Rights Of Children In Armed Conflict
- IJLLR Journal
- Mar 10
- 1 min read
Sara Varghese, School of Law, CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Bangalore
ABSTRACT
Armed conflict negatively impacts children, it violates their basic human rights. The children are forced to enlist as child soldiers. They are exposed to multiples forms of violence and abuse. They are subjected to conditions no child deserves to endure. The international legal framework, which includes the Geneva Conventions, the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), Optional Protocol, and the International Labour Organisation Convention, establishes significant provisions prohibiting child recruitment and emphasising state responsibilities. However, the gap between legal provisions and their enforcement remains significant due to ongoing conflicts, weak governance, and socio-economic challenges. The landmark judgements have focused on States’ and leaders’ accountability. There is a need for better redressal and rehabilitation mechanism for reintegration of child survivors. This research paper provides a multidimensional perspective on the existing legal frameworks, challenges in its implementation and effective enforcement mechanism to protect and safeguard legal rights of children in armed conflict.
Keywords: Child Soldiers, armed conflict. Convention on Rights of Child, sexual exploitation, basic human rights
