Children’s rights concern in repressing war crimes

How has children’s rights in the prosecution of war crimes gained concern in International Humanitarian Law?

This video is the first of two and it focuses on the development of international provisions for children involved in armed conflict. The next video will focus on case law of the ICC.

For the whole week, you will learn the following:

• How gradually, especially after the 90s, a concern for children involved in armed conflicts emerged in International Humanitarian Law, including within the UN

• How the survival and safety of children involved in conflicts has become not only a concern for their family, but also for states and non-state armed groups

• Which international law obligations have been adopted and which are the most significant judgments of the International Criminal Court in punishing warlords in connection with violence and exploitation of children

• How the sad phenomenon of child-soldiers has unfolded and the initiatives undertaken by the United Nations to monitor and prevent the enlisting, enrolment in armed forces, and deployment in combat situations of children, as well as the efforts for their rehabilitation and integration after a conflict

• How a children’s rights-driven approach has influenced the ICC prosecutions, while conceptual and operational gaps are still present and affect judgments and sentences.