


Non-international armed conflicts, between governmental forces and non-governmental armed groups, or between such groups only. International armed conflicts, opposing two or more States, and International humanitarian law distinguishes two types of armed conflicts, namely: It is on this basis that the ICRC takes this opportunity to present the prevailing legal opinion on the definition of " international armed conflict " and " non-international armed conflict " under International Humanitarian Law, the branch of international law which governs armed conflict. No matter their involvement, the recruitment and use of children by armed forces is a grave violation of child rights and international humanitarian law.The States parties to the 1949 Geneva Conventions have entrusted the ICRC, through the Statutes of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, " to work for the understanding and dissemination of knowledge of international humanitarian law applicable in armed conflicts and to prepare any development thereof " Statutes of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, art.

Still others associate themselves for survival or to protect their communities. Others are driven by poverty, compelled to generate income for their families. Some are abducted, threatened, coerced or manipulated by armed actors. Many, especially girls, are also subjected to gender-based violence.Ĭhildren become part of an armed force or group for various reasons. Warring parties use children not only as fighters, but as scouts, cooks, porters, guards, messengers and more. Often referred to as “child soldiers,” these boys and girls suffer extensive forms of exploitation and abuse that are not fully captured by that term. Thousands of children are recruited and used in armed conflicts across the world. Between 20, more than 105,000 children were verified as recruited and used by parties to conflict, although the actual number of cases is believed to be much higher.
