Abstract
This chapter seeks to answer the following research question: Does the military have a role in addressing the trafficking of children in conflict, and if so, what does this role look like? Although, the prevention and combat of crime in the context of armed conflicts is not a traditional role undertaken by the military, this chapter will argue that a multi-sectoral response is needed to truly eradicate human trafficking in conflict zones and thus achieve ‘durable peace and reconciliation.’ Within this multi-sectorial response, the military in Afghanistan, including the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), will be proposed as an additional actor in addressing human trafficking in conflict and protecting child victims of human trafficking.
“We must convert a centuries-old culture of impunity into a culture of accountability”—Pramila Patten, Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict
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Notes
- 1.
Customary international law consists of two components: Opinio juris and State practice. Opinio juris refers to a sense, on behalf of a State that the norm is strong enough to be compelling law. State practice, on the other hand, denotes the acts of States with regard to the norm in question. Once a norm contains these two components, it is considered customary international law and thus, binding on all States, unless they are a persistent objector.
- 2.
Jus cogens norms are defined in Article 53 of the Vienna Convention of the Law of Treaties as norms which are peremptory in nature from which no derogation is permissible, whether by treaty or by objection of a State persistent or otherwise. There is no universal agreement on precisely which norms qualify as jus cogens; however, it is generally accepted that these include prohibitions of only the most egregious acts such as torture, genocide and slavery.
- 3.
The six grave violations are as follows: 1. Recruitment and use of children 2. Killing or maiming of children 3. Sexual violence against children 4. Attacks against schools or hospitals 5. Abduction of children 6. Denial of humanitarian access.
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Iannelli, O. (2020). Trafficking and Child Sexual Violence in Afghanistan: The Military’s Role in Combating Human Trafficking. In: Muraszkiewicz, J., Fenton, T., Watson, H. (eds) Human Trafficking in Conflict . Crime Prevention and Security Management. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-40838-1_12
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