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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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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Youth on the Move: Investigating decision-making, migration trajectories and expectations of young people on the way to Italy

REACH within the framework of the Mixed Migration Platform (MMP), and in partnership with the Mixed Migration Hub (MHub), 01 Aug 2017

In order to strengthen policymakers’ and humanitarian actors’ responses in countries of transit and destination, this study was designed to shed light on young people’s decision-making and preparedness levels, the mechanisms shaping their migration trajectories, and their expectations on the way to Europe.

Secondary Data Review: Democratic Republic of the Congo(DRC) — The Kasaï Crisis

Global Education Cluster & Global Child Protection Area of Responsibility , 20 Jul 2017

This document is based on a secondary data matrix compiled by the global Child Protection Area of Responsibility (CP AoR) and by the Global Education Cluster using the Minimum Standards for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action and the Minimum Standards for Education: Preparedness, Response, Recovery of the Inter-Agency Network for Education in Emergencies (INEE) as an analysis framework.

The Bani Walid municipality commits to address the involvement of children in the armed groups

United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), 11 Jul 2017

The local council of Bani Walid, Libya has committed to release, rehabilitate and reintegrate children associated with armed groups.

Country Care Review: Bhutan

Better Care Network , 05 Jul 2017

This country care review includes the care-related Concluding Observations adopted by the Committee on the Rights of the Child during the seventy-fifth session (15 May 2017 - 02 Jun 2017) of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

VAC and Alternative care in refugee settings

Elsa Laurin - UNHCR, 21 Jun 2017

This UNHCR presentation provides an overview of alternative care for children in East African refugee contexts.

What the girls say: Improving practices for the demobilisation and reintegration of girls associated with armed forces and armed groups in Democratic Republic of Congo

Marie de la Soudière - Child Soldiers International , 19 Jun 2017

This report presents the findings of research conducted by Child Soldiers International to assess the effectiveness of release, psychosocial recovery and reintegration interventions for girls associated with armed groups in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).