International Law Protection for Children Born by Women Victims ofSexual Violence during Armed Conflict

Rape and sexual violence in various forms are one of the most terrible consequences of armed conflicts and a major concern in humanitarian law. Despite the numerous studies and relatively comprehensive rules that have been approved by international lawmakers in protecting women in such circumstances, the continuation of the massive and severe occurrence of this crime against humanity, albeit less than before, is undeniable. But what makes the significance of this issue more visible is one of the worst results of these acts- children born as a result of such violations which are called "children of war" in the present study. It is estimated that only in the past decade, tens of thousands of children have been born as a result of collective rape or sexual exploitation during the war. Throughout their lives, these children are profoundly influenced by social changes in the community and suffer greatly from their biological roots. A quick look at this issue, however, will reveal a very serious vacuum and a deep divide in the international legal system regarding the protection of this vulnerable stratum. This not only requires action in the field of national and international legislation but also special oversight acts thus necessitating the involvement of other members of the international community namely international organizations.