Children’s rights in Ukraine as a «new axiology» of democratic development in the context of globalization challenges

Natalia Stepanenko, Senior Lecturer of the Department of Foreign Languages and Special Language Preparation, Postgraduate student, KROK University, Kyiv, Ukraine

Global democracy as a relatively new phenomenon, introduced by the processes of globalization, embodies the formation and implementation of a universal system of human values. Every child, as the most valuable treasure of the state, must grow up in peace and security. However, unfortunately, despite the efforts of most countries in the world, children remain the primary targets of systemic discrimination, which is especially acute in crisis situations, in particular, minors are the main victims of modern armed conflicts: they are involved in fighting, they die as a result of bombing and shelling or are blown up by mines. The article considers the legal issues of children under the conditions of military aggression in the occupied territories of Ukraine, analyzes how the state protects children victims of hybrid warfare, the involvement of minors in hostilities by the so-called Donetsk and Luhansk «people's republics», outlines prospects for improving Ukrainian legislation with regard to minors, and proposes to criminalize the involvement of children in hostilities and armed conflict.

Keywords: children's rights, armed conflict, hybrid warfare, axiology, protection of children's rights, a child affected by hostilities and armed conflicts, children-combatants, national legislation.