The Save the Children Alliance ‘Guidelines and implications for programming on children associated with armed groups and armed forces (CAAF)’ stipulate that regardless of whether children associated with armed groups and armed forces are in combat roles or so-called support roles, Save the Children believes that children should not be used in war or other forms of armed conflict under any circumstances.
The varying factors determining recruitment, the nature of children's association with armed groups and armed forces and the ways in which they leave them means that programmes designed to prevent their participation, promote their release and support reintegration into communities will depend on a solid understanding of the evolving social, political and economic factors and the priorities for action.
The purpose of this paper is to provide guidance to policy-makers, advocacy initiatives and field-based programmes for dealing with children associated with armed groups and forces. It offers an integrated policy framework, drawing out some recommendations based on global lessons learned. These guidelines reflect the combined experience and thinking of International Save the Children Alliance members who have worked with children associated with armed groups and armed forces.
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