PROTECTION OF CHILDREN IN WARTIME: PROBLEMS AND CHALLENGES FROM A HUMAN RIGHTS PERSPECTIVE

Abstract

The article analyzes the problems and challenges faced by children of war in Ukraine from the perspective of international and national law. It is noted that children who find themselves in the midst of armed conflict face unprecedented difficulties and human rights violations and are a particularly vulnerable group in this context. The article provides a list of the main international legal acts that form the basis for the protection of children in situ-ations of armed conflict. The author focuses on the most widely recognized instrument on the rights of the child - the Convention on the Rights of the Child. It is emphasized that neither the status of a refugee or asylum seeker, stateless person, citizen of an unrecognized country, etc. can in any way limit the fundamental rights of the child. It is noted that national legislation is an important part of the legal system designed to protect children in conflict zones. It is noted that the first obligation that the UN Convention imposes on the state is to take care of abducted children, as such harm is multidimensional and continues every mi-nute while they are still held hostage. It is emphasized that deportation is one of the grave crimes against humanity committed by the Russian Federation during the war in Ukraine. Russia systematically shells schools, kindergartens and other buildings that are civilian fa-cilities for children. As a result, children and youth are deprived of the full and proper real-ization of their right to a decent education. Official materials are used to show the forced recruitment and use of children in hostilities. It is emphasized that children of war in Ukraine are victims of injustice and human rights violations. Therefore, it is necessary to make joint efforts to protect the rights of children in war, to conduct further research on the need to comply with international standards and to promote the restoration of children's rights in war.