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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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?

The Guardian, 08 Dec 2016

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

This paper is the third 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).

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

These series of 6 papers are 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).

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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.

Leave no one behind: the first year of the SDGs for children on the move and other children affected by migration.

Destination Unknown for inputs at the Civil Society Days of the GFMD, 01 Dec 2016

This paper is the first 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).

Interaction of international mechanisms of migrants’ rights protection: 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 fifth 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).

Engagement of diaspora and migrant associations: A child rights perspective

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

This paper is the second 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).

Combatting dependency and promoting child protection in Rwanda

Saeed Rahman, Simran Chaudhri, Lindsay Stark and Mark Canaver -- Forced Migration Review, 01 Oct 2016

According to this article from Forced Migration Review, when the majority of aid comes from external sources, it can cause those who receive the aid to feel powerless.