Child Soldiers: International and Indian Perspective

A child is always in need of more security in times of peace and conflict as they are considered vulnerable because of their physiological conditions. However in times of armed conflict their vulnerability increases by manifold as, they are not only made victims of several war crimes but also made the perpetrators of the same. Child rights have been garnering more support after the Second World War, through the continuous efforts made by the International Organizations. It is in this light the author elaborates on the international law on child rights, specifically focusing on the protections given to children as used in armed conflicts, ranging from the discipline of human rights to International humanitarian law. Thereafter the book gives an overview of the tasks of international forums with respect to child soldiers. The author critically studies the legal provisions in India, which give us a better understanding of the state of child soldiers in India. Lastly, it sums up the difficulties faced by children used as soldiers in India and the possible remedies.