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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Beyond Borders: How to make the global compacts on migration and refugees work for uprooted children

UNICEF, 01 Dec 2017

This report highlights initiatives underway that work towards addressing the care and protection of refugee, migrant and displaced children – initiatives that can be replicated around the world.

A Warm Welcome? Unaccompanied Migrant Children in Networks of Care and Asylum: Pilot Project Report

Rachel Rosen, Sarah Crafter, Veena Meetoo - Social Science Research Unit, UCL Institute of Education - University College London, 01 Nov 2017

This pilot project sought to investigate unaccompanied children’s experiences of care, and caring for others, as they navigate the labyrinthine asylum-welfare nexus in the UK.

Country Care Review: Cyprus

Better Care Network, 13 Oct 2017

This country care review includes the care-related Concluding Observations adopted by the Committee on the Rights of the Child as part of its examination of Cyprus’s periodic report to the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Children Come First, Intervento in Frontiera: Dossier IV

Alessio Fasulo - Save the Children Italy, 01 Oct 2017

As part of the "Children Come First: Intervention at the border" project, Save the Children Italy elaborates and disseminates, on a quarterly basis, a dossier containing quantitative and qualitative information (profiles) relating to migrant minors entering Italy. This dossier contains information relating to the period July-September 2017.

Better Governance to Fight Displacement by Gang Violence in the Central American Triangle

Ruth Elizabeth Prado Pérez - Migraciones Internacionales, 13 Sep 2017

This essay examines the extreme violence and organized crime in the Central American Northern Triangle (CANT) region that is causing many young people, families, and individuals to flee and become displaced, as well as the widespread forcible gang recruitment in the region.

Children Come First, Intervento in Frontiera: Dossier III

Alessio Fasulo - Save the Children Italy, 01 Sep 2017

Harrowing Journeys: Children and youth on the move across the Mediterranean Sea, at risk of trafficking and exploitation

UNICEF and the International Organization for Migration (IOM), 01 Sep 2017

This joint report from UNICEF and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) explores in detail survey data from the Central and Eastern Mediterranean Sea routes to Europe, focusing on adolescents and youth on the move from Africa and Asia.

Education Uprooted: For every migrant, refugee and displaced child, education

UNICEF, 01 Sep 2017

This report provides essential data and information on educational challenges faced by nearly 50 million uprooted children around the world.

Street children, integrated education and violence in northern Nigeria

Chidi Ezegwu, Adewole O. Adedokun, Chioma Ezegwu - Education and Extremisms: Rethinking Liberal Pedagogies in the Contemporary World, 09 Aug 2017

This chapter explores how the failing system of traditional almajiri education, challenges associated with government efforts to integrate almajiri education into the formal school system, social exclusion and hostility contribute to increase the boys’ vulnerability to radicalisation and recruitment by Boko Haram.

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Negotiating developmental projects: Unaccompanied Afghan refugee boys in Norway

Guro Brokke Omland & Agnes Andenas - Childhood, 03 Aug 2017

Informed by a cultural psychological approach to development, the authors analysed interviews with 18 unaccompanied Afghan boys and their professional caregivers.

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