Children Affected by Armed Conflict and Displacement

Children are especially vulnerable to the effects of war, and frequently represent at least half of the population in a conflict area. They suffer fear and insecurity, and disruption to every aspect of their lives. Children who have been displaced are at an increased risk of sexual and physical violence, disease and malnutrition, and separation from family members. As displaced persons or refugees they may experience severe poverty, abuse, exploitation, and psychosocial distress.

Children without parental care in conflict areas are highly vulnerable to abduction or other forms of recruitment by armed forces and groups. Such children may be used to fight, provide labour or be sexually exploited. Involvement in conflict may result in malnutrition, abuse, addiction to drugs, injury, psychosocial distress or death. While children associated with armed forces and groups make up a small minority of the total number of children affected by war, they are extremely vulnerable and in need of particular protection and care.

Opportunities to help children who have been associated with fighting forces may begin with their escape, capture or formal demobilization. Some may be able immediately to reunite with family members, but others may need interim care during tracing. While children may be readily accepted by their family and community, others risk rejection. Family mediation and community sensitization is needed to support family reunification and community integration. Ongoing monitoring, family support services, and placement planning is necessary where children are not reunited with one or both parents or where family and community acceptance is uncertain.

Community action to protect and support war affected children should be inclusive and not limited to children formally associated with armed forces or any one group of children. National efforts should focus on the reestablishment of essential services, particularly in the areas of security, health and education.

While this section contains resources relevant for all children in conflict affected areas, it focuses on children without parental care, including refugees and displaced children, and children associated with armed forces and groups. It includes information on demobilisation, family reunification and community reintegration.

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Codul de Conduită pentru Situația de Urgență din Moldova Acest

Changing the Way We Care, 01 Mar 2022

Acest cod de conduită urmează să fie utilizat în timpul răspunsului de urgență al Republicii Moldova la criza din Ucraina. Ar trebui să fie susținut de toți adulții și copiii de peste 12 ani.

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An Updated Procedure for Border Crossing for Orphans and Children Without Parental Care

Government of Ukraine, 28 Feb 2022

The Government of Ukraine released this updated procedure for border crossing for orphans and children without parental care.

Guardianship Systems for Unaccompanied Children in the European Union: Developments Since 2014

European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights, 15 Feb 2022

The report shows that, overall, although legislative changes have taken place in many Member States, national guardianship systems continue to face many challenges. The guardianship systems also still vary greatly across the EU.

Why Invest in Child Protection Primary Prevention?

The Alliance for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action, 20 Jan 2022

This video by the Alliance for for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action details the main reasons for investing in child protection prevention programming in humanitarian crises.

Ukrainian Families and Minors Fleeing from War

Giovanni Giulio Valtolina, Nicoletta Pavesi, 2022

In this essay, after providing some data regarding Ukrainian families and minors who fled their country after the Russian invasion and moved to Italy, the authors will focus on the extraordinary effort made to improve reception programs, on the peculiar condition of minors who reached our country accompanied by adults who were not their parents, and finally on the experience of placing these fleeing families into Italian households.

Study on the Evolution of the Children and Armed Conflict Mandate 1996-2021

Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, 2022

This study looks at the results achieved under the mandate of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict (SRSG CAAC) in the past 25 years, the challenges that impacted its implementation and the opportunities to improve the protection of children affected by conflict.

CAAFAG Programme Development Toolkit Guidelines

The Alliance for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action , 2022

The Toolkit is intended for field practitioners working with Children Associated with Armed Forces and Armed Groups (CAAFAG), who are interested in designing and implementing quality, gender-sensitive and participatory programming.

My Life Journey Book

Life Book for Youth, FICE Netherland, Het Begint Bij Mij, University of Groningen, 2022

Since the start of war in Ukraine, more than 4 million people have fled, half of whom are children. As of today there is the Mylifejourneybook for these children: an activity book in which children can write their experiences of the journey, but also their memories of Ukraine and their hopes for the future. The book can be downloaded free of charge for everyone at www.lifebookforyouth.com/mylifejourneybook

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Primary Prevention Explained: Sarah's Story

The Alliance for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action, 01 Oct 2021

This video by the Alliance for for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action details

Integrating Children on the Move in Care Reform in ESA: Evidence on Why Children on the Move Need to be Integrated Into Care Reform Strategies and How their Care Needs Can be Met

UNICEF ESARO, Changing the Way We Care, 01 Oct 2021

This short paper examines why children on the move need to be included in care reform in the region, how the care needs of these boys and girls can be met, and what lessons can be learned from the care of children on the move to inform the care of children more broadly.

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