Children, Armed Conflict, and Vulnerable Groups under IHL: The Rwandan Case

This thesis aims to explore the complex relationship between armed conflict and International Humanitarian Law, placing particular emphasis on the profound impact that war has on the lives of children. It begins with an in-depth analysis of the rise and historical development of International Humanitarian Law. It then moves on to the recognition of the fundamental rights afforded to civilians in situations of armed conflict, including vulnerable groups such as women, religious personnel, journalists, and, above all, children. The third chapter delves into the impact of armed conflict on children and their right to education. The 1994 Rwandan genocide serves as an emblematic case study: it examines the devastating effects that the conflict had on children and on the educational system, as well as the post-genocide government’s efforts to reconstruct it.