THE MAIN INTERNATIONAL AND REGIONAL LEGAL STANDARDS RELATING TO CHILD SOLDIERS

Prohibition against the use of child soldiers can be found in international legal instruments in both human rights law and international humanitarian law. It can also be found in instruments in the fields of international labor law and prohibition against slavery. The provisions differ in their definition of a child soldier, concerning age limit as well as the child's function during the conflict. There are also differences in the responsibility of states to protect children against being used as soldiers.