Each year thousands of children are deprived of their liberty in situations of armed conflict, many because of their actual or alleged association with parties to the conflict or on alleged national security-related grounds. The increasing numbers of children being detained is a concern in itself, but also because child detainees are highly vulnerable to a wide range of human rights violations and abuses, including conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV).
The paper focuses specifically on sexual violence against children detained by parties to armed conflict, primarily on account of their alleged association with opposing forces and/or under national security laws. It includes children held by state security forces in administrative or judicial detention. It also includes children deprived of liberty by NSAGs. In some countries affected by armed conflict, migrant or refugee children may also have been held by parties to armed conflict and subjected to CRSV. Such cases are referenced where relevant.