Children may be affected as persons succumbing to the deliberate imposition of conditions leading to death from hunger or disease, and as refugees and internally displaced persons, and may even be involved as perpetrators of killings planned by adults. This chapter begins with definitions of children and child soldiers and turns to legal develop ments surrounding the definitions and their practical impact. The next section of the chapter will deal with genocides involving children or child soldiers in important roles and highlight key aspects of the jurisprudence of the international criminal tribunals relating to child soldiers in the context of genocide or politicide.
