Argentina
Practice Relating to Rule 135. Children
Section A. Special protection
Argentina’s Law of War Manual (1969) provides: “The belligerent parties shall take the necessary measures to ensure that children under the age of 7 who have been orphaned or separated from their families are not left to their own resources.”
The manual further states:
The occupying Power shall not hinder the application of any preferential measures in regard to food, medical care and protection against the effects of war, which may have been adopted prior to the occupation in favour of children under 15 years.
Argentina’s Law of War Manual (1989) provides that new-born babies are considered as included in the concept of wounded and sick.
The manual further states that “children shall be the object of a special respect and shall be protected against any form of indecent assault” and that “they are to receive care and aid as they require on account of their age or any other reasons”.
With respect to non-international armed conflicts in particular, the manual provides: “Children shall receive the assistance and care they require.”