Children's Identity rights in the context of Armed Conflict

Armed conflicts contribute to the unprecedented levels of human displacement Worldwide. Children are forced to leave their homes with some even becoming separated from their families in the process. Children (defined as individuals under 18 years of age) bear a particularly heavy burden of suffering in armed conflict; they constitute half the population in many war-torn nations and half of the global refugee population. children are used as tools in warfare and become victims of child genocide or forced into roles as child soldiers. As a result, children lose their identity as they are forced to leave their homes and countries, separated from their families. This leads to a loss of language, culture, and a sense of belonging, both to their families and their nations, which traumatically affects them. These unrest and displacements during armed conflicts result in loss of identification documents, the breakdown of civil registration systems, and the limited capacity of humanitarian agencies to prioritize identity-related issues amidst urgent life-saving interventions. Consequently, children without proper identification face increased risks of exploitation, trafficking, illegal adoption, and long-term statelessness. Therefore, this study aims to assess the extent to which the child's right to identity is protected in armed conflicts, identify the main challenges to ensuring this right, analyze existing legal frameworks, case studies, and best practices from international and local humanitarian. As a result, helping policy-makers, practitioners, and stakeholders involved in emergency response and child protection.