Analysis of legal challenges for protection of child soldiers during armed conflicts

Abstract

There are a number of legal regimes available aimed to protect the children for recruiting in armed forces during the war. With growing armed conflicts with a rapid pace around the world, indulgences of child soldiers are also increasing. International norms and rules protect children from recruiting in national forces but the problem arises, when the private armed groups recruit children either voluntarily or forcefully. Afterward, these children face prosecution in several forums and have been sentenced. In traditional prosecution process child soldiers’ protection is at risk. The International community failed to determine the actual status of child soldiers to qualify them as perpetrators or victims. The objective of the study is to bring the cases from conflict zones, where child soldiers have been prosecuted and sentenced, identify the status of these child soldiers, and discuss the possible method of rehabilitation, which safeguards and protect them while ensuring their bright future, as traditional prosecution does not protect their interest. This study suggests the method of rehabilitation cum prosecution principles be framed at the international level for child soldiers and victims of their actions