The Situation Of Child Soldiers Armed Conflicts: The Case Of Africa

Öz

International legal ınstruments such as the 1949 Geneva Conventions, the 1977 Additional Protocols, the 1989 Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), and the 2000 Optional Protocol constitute the legal framework for the protection of children. However, socio-economic disparities, cultural dynamic, and political instability-praticulaly prevalent in the African continent-create condition conducive to the exploitation of children by armed groups.The recruitment and use of soldier child is regarded not only as a grave violation of fundamental human rights but olso as a serious breach of international humanitarian law. In this context, it is asserted that the resolution of this issue cannot be achieved solely through normative regulations, but must olso be supported by structural reforms and processes of social transformation. This study will first examine the concept of the child and the meaning attributed to this concept under international law; supaequently, it will analyze the normative content and practical implications of international treaties prohibiting the use of children in armed conflicts. Furthermore, the phenomenon of child soldiers will be addressed comprehensively within the framework of international law, with a particular focus on the multidimensional aspects of the issue as observed in the African context.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Child
• Armed Conflicts law
• İnternational humanitarian law
• International human law
• Africa

Silahlı Çatışmalarda Asker Çocukların Durumu: Afrika Örneği

Öz

1949 Cenevre Sözleşmeleri, 1977 tarihli Ek Protokoller, 1989 tarihli Çocuk Haklarına Dair Sözleşme (ÇHS) ve 2000 tarihli İhtiyari Protokol gibi uluslararası hukuk metinleri, çocukların korunmasına yönelik hukuki çerçeveyi teşkil etmektedir. Ancak özellikle Afrika kıtasında yaşanan sosyo-ekonomik eşitsizlikler, kültürel dinamikler ve siyasi istikrarsızlık, çocukların silahlı gruplar tarafından istismar edilmesini kolaylaştıran zeminler yaratmaktadır. Asker çocuk kullanımı yalnızca temel bir insan hakları ihlali değil, aynı zamanda uluslararası insancıl hukukun ağır bir ihlali olarak değerlendirilmektedir. Bu çerçevede, sorunun çözümünün yalnızca normatif düzenlemelerle sınırlı kalmayacağı, aynı zamanda yapısal reformlar ve toplumsal dönüşüm süreçleriyle desteklenmesi gerektiği ifade edilecektir. Bu çalışmada, öncelikle çocuk kavramını ve bu kavramın uluslararası hukukta kazandığı anlamı inceleyip; devamında ise çocukların silahlı çatışmalarda kullanılmasını yasaklayan uluslararası sözleşmelerin normatif içeriğini ve uygulamadaki etkileri değerlendirilecektir. Ayrıca, çocuk asker olgusu uluslararası hukuk bağlamında kapsamlı biçimde ele alarak Afrika kıtası örneği üzerinden meseleyi geniş bir şekilde ele alacaktır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Silahlı Çatışmalar hukuku
• Uluslararası İnsancıl hukuku
• Uluslararası insan hakları hukuku
• Çocuk
• Afrika

Kaynakça

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