Law No. 09/001: Child Protection Law

This law addresses various aspects relevant to the protection of children during armed conflict. In Article 2(5), this law defines a child in an exceptional situation as “any person below 18 years of age that is found in a situation of armed conflict, tensions or civil troubles, natural catastrophes or a situation of sensible and prolonged degradation of socio-economic conditions.” The law also prohibits the enlisting of children into armed groups and grants protection for children affected by armed conflict. The recruitment of individuals below 18 years is made punishable for 10 to 20 years in prison.