Child Soldiers in Times of War: Issues Arising

Abstract

The recruitment and use of children as soldiers in war situation is an old phenomenon that has lingered over the years despite various international, regional and domestic laws prohibiting it. Baffling however are recent events that not only portray the use of children in war situation, but include their use for acts of terrorism which among other violations, violate their right to life. Other issues such as their criminal liability, the grant of refugee status, minimum age for criminal liability etc. have instigated several discourses from authors.The fact that recent events display the use of children for acts of terrorism raises an issue on whether the War on Terror prohibit and punish terrorists for engaging children.  Relying on desktop materials, newspapers, statutory and judicial authorities this paper analyses this legal position. It further argues that though War on Terror as introduced by the United States of America after the wake of September 11, 2001 has been the medium for combating terrorism, recent happenings reveal that terrorism can be regulated by the Law of War which brings terrorist within the ambit of the Law that prohibits the use of children as soldiers and make them accountable for recruiting as well as using them for acts of terrorism.

Keywords: Child Soldiers, War on Terror, Terrorism, War

DOI: 10.7176/JLPG/93-02

Publication date: January 31^st 2020