L'interdiction de la participation aux hostilités, la démobilisation et la réinsertion des enfants soldats en République démocratique du Congo

The prohibition to engage children in hostilities and armed conflict is well recognized in international law, especially when children are under the age of fifteen. However, the facts show that children are massively recruited and used for armed conflicts, particularly when non -state armed groups take part. If the authors of the violation of this rule may incur individual criminal responsibility, demobilization and reintegration are rather a relief and rehabilitation for child victims. Democratic Republic of Congo is bound by all international obligations on child soldiers, both as regards the prohibition of participation in hostilities as those on the demobilization and socio- economic reintegration. It notes, however, that these rules remain ineffective in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The lack of government commitment to children in general and child soldiers, in particular, largely explains that these rules remain ineffective.