Nearly three generations of Angolans have been at war for 41 years. Despite the shortage of data in Angola, reports indicate that a large numbers of girls were abducted during the war. Little information is available regarding the nature of the abducted girl’s experiences and the impact of their experiences on subsequent integration into community life. The anecdotal evidence gathered here (from interviews of 20 young women from peri-urban Luanda and rural Huambo provinces) suggests that when these girls return to their communities, they lack the emotional, social, legal and economic support needed to reintegrate and move ahead in building their lives. Their position of exclusion and vulnerability facilitates continuing gender-based discrimination, making it extremely difficult to provide the support and assistance to which formerly abducted girls are entitled. On a personal level, this neglect serves to deepen their suffering and sense of worthlessness: painful experiences remain hidden, health problems remain untreated, their legal status remains unclear, and no acknowledgement and social support is forthcoming.
Detailed recommendations for responding to the needs of girl soldiers emphasize continued advocacy and political commitment as critical steps necessary for transforming lessons learned into practical outcomes. Child soldiers need reintegration and rehabilitation programs that are sensitive to their specific needs. The gender knowledge gained from researching the particular experiences of girl soldiers is necessary to develop and implement policies and programs which recognize how the social construction of gender affects both girls and boys and can limit or expand their abilities to secure economic livelihoods, to receive adequate health care, or to access education and vocational training.
©Christian Children's Fund Angola and CIDA