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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Psychosocial Care for Unaccompanied Minors in Europe: Is There an Economic Case? Discussion Paper

Italian Society of Traumatic Stress Studies (SISST) in partnership with Terre des Hommes International Federation (TDHIF), SISST and TDHIF as part of the Destination Unknown campaign, 2017

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The Effects of Intrastate War and Reintegration on Liberian Child Soldiers: Part II

Rialize Ferreira, Alfred Mutiti - Commonwealth Youth and Development, 2017

The main focus of this article is on the effects of intrastate war and the reintegration of Liberian child soldiers into their families and former communities.

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Special Measures for the Evacuation of Migrant Children: A Reference Checklist

International Organization for Migration (IOM), MICIC, 2017

The Checklist is a part of the toolkit developed by the IOM to provide technical guidance for the operationalization of the MICIC Initiative Guidelines. It is a non-binding compilation of recommended actions to ensure that the specific protection needs of migrant children are taken into consideration during humanitarian evacuations.

Immigration Enforcement & the Child Welfare System

Immigrant Legal Resource Center, 2017

This report from the Immigrant Legal Resource Center of the United States highlights the connections between US immigration policy and the child welfare system, particularly the criminalization of undocumented immigrants and its impact on foster care in the US.

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

Child Soldiers International , 2017

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

After Calais: what has happened to the refugee children?

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This video from The Guardian discusses how six weeks after the Calais migrant camp was demolished, unaccompanied minors were transferred around France and are still waiting to hear from the Home Office.

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Labour rights for migrant workers: A child rights perspective

Destination Unknown, Draft version for inputs at the Civil Society Days of the Global Forum on Migration and Development, 01 Dec 2016

This paper is the sixth of the second edition of the child rights bridging papers for the Civil Society Days of the Global Forum on Migration and Development (Dhaka, Bangladesh, 8 to 10 December 2016).

Migrants stranded in distress: A child rights perspective

Destination Unknown, Draft version for inputs at the Civil Society Days of the Global Forum on Migration and Development, 01 Dec 2016

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Child Rights Bridging Papers – 2° edition

Destination Unknown, Draft version for inputs at the Civil Society Days of the Global Forum on Migration and Development, 01 Dec 2016

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Rights of migrant women: A child rights perspective

Destination Unknown, Draft version for inputs at the Civil Society Days of the Global Forum on Migration and Development, 01 Dec 2016

This paper is the fourth of the second edition of the child rights bridging papers for the Civil Society Days of the Global Forum on Migration and Development (Dhaka, Bangladesh, 8 to 10 December 2016). It examines specificities affecting children on the nove and other children affected by migration related to migrants stranded in distress.