International Mechanisms for the Protection of Children’s Rights in Armed Conflict

Svitlana Khodak1, Natalia Khmelevska2, Oleksii Tymchuk3, Iryna Turchyn-Kukarina4 & Olena Skrylnyk5

https://doi.org/10.62271/pjc.16.2.61.74

Abstract
The relevance of the work is determined by the need to improve the protection of children’s rights as the most vulnerable category of the population during the military conflict. The study aims to analyse the existing international mechanisms for the protection of children’s rights during the armed conflict and their effectiveness using the case of Ukraine. The work employed a doctrinal approach, the method of comparative law, a statistical method, and a content analysis. The research established that at the international level, there is an
extensive system of legal documents and relationships between countries and international organisations aimed at protecting children’s rights during military conflict, but this system cannot provide the expected results. Using the case of Ukraine, it was proved that children’s rights are regularly violated in the war with Russia: 512 children were killed, and 1,158 were injured as of December 14, 2023. In Ukraine, numerous measures are taken to protect the children’s rights during the armed conflict. International cooperation plays an important role, but protective mechanisms still need significant improvement. The research results are useful in improving government measures related to protecting children’s rights in armed conflict.

Keywords: protection of children’s rights, armed conflict, Convention on the Rights of the Child, Geneva Conventions, war in Ukraine