ABSTRACT
This chapter sets the legal scene. It begins by reviewing the main legal instruments defining the rights and legal protection of children under international human rights law and international humanitarian law. It then assesses how international law prohibits the recruitment and use of children in hostilities, and how it regulates their treatment if arrested or detained. Lastly, the chapter gives a brief overview of some of the main procedural guarantees applying to children in contact with international criminal courts, in particular at the International Criminal Court (ICC).
