Summary:

The author of the article analyses the legal status of a child during armed conflict. The above concept is considered through the allocation of three components, namely: ‘legal status of a person’, “child” and “armed conflict”. Attention is paid to the opinions of various legal scholars in this area. The author offers his own definition of the concept of ‘legal status of a child during an armed conflict’.

In the article, the author focuses on the role and place of the legal status of the child during armed conflict at the level of international legal instruments. In particular, the author examines the international legal norms enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Declaration of the Rights of the Child, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, etc.

These norms are specific international legal norms that do not establish clear rights and obligations, but only indicate the general direction of behaviour of subjects of international law. Such international legal norms do not specify who in each individual state should determine and implement appropriate mechanisms to ensure the legal status of the child during armed conflict. The above-mentioned international legal norms define the general direction of behaviour of subjects of international law regarding the legal status of the child during armed conflict – all participants unanimously agree that the child during armed conflict has a special status and, accordingly, should have special protection.

National legislation in this area is formed on the basis of international legal norms.

The author examines the national legislation, namely the Law of Ukraine ‘On Protection of Childhood’ and the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine ‘On Approval of the Procedure for Granting the Status of a Child Affected by Military Operations and Armed Conflicts’.

Key words: child, legal status, armed conflict, international legal norms.

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