Child Protection and Conflict in Africa: A Case Analysis of Children Associated With Armed Conflict in the Horn and the Great Lakes Regions of Africa

Abstract:

This paper seeks to investigate child protection/child rights in armed conflicts in the HOA and GLRA. By establishing the principles of child protection during armed conflict, the study tries to establish a conclusive analysis on the plight of CAAC in the HOA and the GLRA. In addition, the study aims at investigating the extent of the execution and implementation of child rights in armed conflict in the HOA and the GLRA, and also it aims at examining the prospect involvement of children in armed conflict in the HOA and the GLRA. Notwithstanding the ruling out of the use of children in armed conflict in international legal framework, both government armed forces and militias persist to vigorously enlist, seize, and openly exploit children, in armed conflicts. The limitation of the International humanitarian law averts it from shielding the most defenceless humankinds, children associated with armed conflicts (CAAC), whereas international legal human rights instruments lack enforcement mechanisms as a result making the protection of the CAAC derisory. Recruitment of children as soldiers has a deleterious impact on their development and health. Therefore this thesis inspects the exploitation of children as soldiers in armed conflict in the HOA and GLRA and the different international legal standards governing their exploitation. In this manner, it examines the implementation and enforcements of these international legal frameworks in theory and in practice. The study will embark on a series of case analysis.