Child soldiers phenomenon and the response of international law / Joel Olasunkanmi Anwo, Olugbemi Fatula
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Article
Title:
Child soldiers phenomenon and the response of international law
Author zone:
Joel Olasunkanmi Anwo, Olugbemi Fatula
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English
Abstract:
Initially, prohibitions with regard to recruitment and use of child soldiers were directed against States and, to a lesser extent, non-state actors such as armed opposition groups; but more recently, the individual recruiters themselves have been targeted. Child recruitment is now a crime in international law and a number of prosecutions are in progress and more are anticipated. The unfortunate reality is that large numbers of children are participating in a number of armed conflicts ongoing around the world today. In the light of this background, this paper reviews the development in internationl law relating to child soldiers, identifies the legal and conceptual descrepancies in the child soldiers phenomenon and their implications. It review and compares develoopments within international humanitariano law and human rights law in regard to matters relating to child soldiers. Beginning with the Geneva Conventions and early twentieth century legal develpments for children in general.
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