INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT'S ROLE IN COMBATING ELECTRONIC CHILD RECRUITMENT

During armed conflicts, electronic recruitment of children emerged employing ways and means of contemporary technology to enroll them directly or indirectly in hostilities. According to the text of International Criminal Court Statute Article 8 (2) paragraph (b) (xxvi), "The crime of recruiting children, whether through traditional or electronic means and involving them in armed hostilities, constitutes a war crime punishable under international criminal law." The study aims to clarify the analytical treatment of electronic child recruitment in light of international criminal justice rulings, as well as to identify methods and tools for electronic child recruitment in armed conflicts under the provisions of the International Criminal Court's Statute. The study concludes with several results, the most notable of which are, that the International Criminal Court holds accountable anyone who commits the crime of child recruitment, whether through traditional or electronic means, and considers it a war crime in times of armed conflict and a crime against humanity in times other than war. The study suggests some recommendations, the most important of which are, reconsidering the provisions of the International Criminal Court's Statute, particularly amending Article (8), by "Raising the legal age for the crime of child recruitment from 15 to 18 years and preventing direct and indirect participation in armed conflicts"