The International Criminal Court's Approach to Criminalization of Child Recruitment in Armed Conflict

In recent decades, violations of children's rights, especially in armed conflicts, have overshadowed the implementation of norms related to this vulnerable groups. Children are exposed to murder, forced conscription, sexual exploitation and other abuses during conflicts. Examples of such violations can be found in Sierra Leone, Congo and Rwanda. Using a descriptive-analytical method, this paper seeks to examine the case-law established in the International Criminal Court regarding the criminalization of child recruitment and how to achieve criminal justice in this trespect. The results of the study show that by convicting Thomas Lubanga of child abuse in armed conflict, the ICC reached a turning point in the fight against impunity for violation of chidren rights. On the other hand, the issue of assigning criminal responsibility to children in the event of a crime during conflicts, especially against the civilian population, is another dimension of the issue that, with the wise leadership of the international judiciary, can put an end to this phenomenon and prosecute its real culprits.