Children and Justice During and in the Aftermath of Armed Conflict

Date: 25th September 2011
Category: General measures of implementation, Children in situations of exploitation
Author: UN Special Representative of the Secretary General for Children and Armed Conflict

The purpose of this paper is to bring more conceptual clarity to the issue of children and justice in times of armed conflict by examining relevant legal provisions, academic discussions and a number of case studies.

It attempts to articulate how children who have suffered grave violations during armed conflict can access justice and how the current system deals with child victims and witnesses.

It also explores the issues surrounding responsibility of children who may have committed international crimes during conflict, the nature of their accountability and where they should be placed in the spectrum between total impunity and total responsibility.

The paper aims at guiding and supporting advocacy efforts to ensure that the rights and best interest of the children are protected while ensuring that justice is done.