BAMRO

Protecting Children from Recruitment and Exploitation in Armed Conflicts

A Legal and Moral Responsibility to Safeguard the Future of Humanity

Issued by the Belgian Association for Human Rights and Development (BAMRO)

Introduction

Children are among the most vulnerable victims of armed conflicts. Their suffering extends beyond the loss of security and stability to include grave violations of their rights to life, education, health, and protection. Among the most serious of these violations is the recruitment and exploitation of children in military activities, whether as combatants, guards, messengers, porters, or in other conflict-related roles.

Despite ongoing international efforts, thousands of children worldwide continue to be forcibly recruited or exploited by parties to armed conflicts, constituting a serious violation of international humanitarian law and international human rights law.

International Legal Framework

Children enjoy special protection under several international legal instruments, including:

• United Nations
• Convention on the Rights of the Child, which guarantees protection and care for children affected by armed conflicts.
• Optional Protocol on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict, which establishes 18 as the minimum age for direct participation in hostilities by non-state armed groups.
• Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols.
• Resolutions of the United Nations Security Council, particularly Resolutions 1612 (2005), 1882 (2009), and 2427 (2018).

The recruitment or use of children under the age of 15 in hostilities is recognized by the International Criminal Court as a war crime subject to international criminal accountability.

A Concerning Reality

Reports issued by the United Nations and international organizations continue to document widespread cases of child recruitment in conflict zones around the world. These violations extend beyond military recruitment and include:

• Killing and maiming.
• Abduction.
• Sexual violence.
• Denial of education.
• Forced labor.
• Psychological and military exploitation.
• Use of children as human shields or in high-risk military tasks.

Such practices cause severe and long-lasting psychological and social harm, while undermining children's chances of successful reintegration into society after conflicts end.

Humanitarian Consequences

Child recruitment deprives children not only of their childhood but also of their prospects for a secure and dignified future. Many affected children suffer from:

• Severe psychological trauma.
• Long-term educational disruption.
• Family separation.
• Social exclusion.
• Increased vulnerability to poverty and marginalization.

These consequences affect entire societies and contribute to perpetuating cycles of violence and instability for generations.

Responsibility of the International Community

Addressing this phenomenon requires strengthened international efforts to:

1. Prevent the recruitment and use of children by all parties to conflicts.
2. Support disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration programs.
3. Ensure accountability for perpetrators.
4. Provide psychological and social support to affected children.
5. Protect schools and civilian infrastructure.
6. Expand access to education and rehabilitation services.
7. Strengthen United Nations monitoring and reporting mechanisms.

BAMRO Recommendations

The Belgian Association for Human Rights and Development (BAMRO) calls for:

• Strengthening international commitments to prohibit child recruitment under all circumstances.
• Supporting humanitarian programs aimed at rehabilitating conflict-affected children.
• Ensuring effective protection of schools and educational institutions.
• Enhancing cooperation among governments, international organizations, and civil society.
• Holding perpetrators accountable for grave violations against children.
• Increasing investment in education as a key tool for preventing exploitation and extremism.

Conclusion

Protecting children from recruitment and exploitation during armed conflicts is not only a legal obligation but also a shared moral and humanitarian responsibility. Every child deprived of security, education, and dignity represents a loss for humanity as a whole. Sustainable peace begins with protecting children and ensuring that future generations grow up free from violence and exploitation, in accordance with the principles of international law and human rights.

Belgian Association for Human Rights and Development (BAMRO)
Organization holding Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).