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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Puertas cerradas El fracaso de México en la protección de niños refugiados y migrantes de América Central

Human Rights Watch, 31 Mar 2016

Human Rights Watch llevaba a cabo investigación en México y Honduras en 2015 para examinar cómo México está aplicando la ley nacional e internacional en el tratamiento de migrantes centroamericanos, particularmente los niños.

Closed Doors: Mexico’s Failure to Protect Central American Refugee and Migrant Children

Human Rights Watch, 31 Mar 2016

Human Rights Watch conducted research throughout Mexico and Honduras in 2015 to examine how Mexico is applying national and international law in its treatment of Central American migrants, particularly children.

Risk of Adolescent Involvement in Military Activities in Ukraine: Case Study and Recommendations

Aleksei Lazarenko – Danish Refugee Council, 01 Mar 2016

In this report, Lazarenko notes that adolescents between ages 16 to 18 who attend vocational educational institutions in conflict-affected areas are at a particularly high risk of involvement in armed forces/groups or sexual exploitation.

Children with Traumatic Separation: Information for Professionals

National Child Traumatic Stress Network, 2016

This guidance from the National Child Traumatic Stress Network provides information and suggestions for helping children who experience traumatic separation from a caregiver.

Strengths-based community action as a source of resilience for children affected by armed conflict

Michael Wessells, 2016

Mental health issues in war-affected children include depression, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and neurological problems, among others.

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Community-based surveillance to monitor trends in unaccompanied and separated children in eastern DRC

Rubenstein BL, Spencer C, Mansourian H, Noble E, Munganga GB, and Stark L, 01 Dec 2015

A mobile phone-based community surveillance system was piloted in the Democratic Republic of the Congo with the goal of identifying new cases of unaccompanied and separated children on a weekly basis.

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Childhood in the Shadow of War: Voices of Young Syrians

Save the Children Sweden, 01 Dec 2015

Through the voices of children, parents and staff working in the region, this report by Save the Children presents a glimpse into the struggles faced by refugee and displaced children and families from Syria. The report is primarily based on children’s stories as told to Save the Children in urban areas in Lebanon and in camps and urban areas in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Drawings and other playful sessions were used with the children to help them tell stories of their everyday lives without the negative impact a deep interview might have.

Initial Assessment Report: Protection Risks for Women and Girls in the European Refugee and Migrant Crisis

Rebecca Eapen, UNHCR; Fabrizia Falcione, UNFPA; Marcy Hersh, WRC; Katharina Obser, WRC; Ali Shaar, UNFPA, 01 Dec 2015

Concerned by the protection risks faced by women and girls, the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Women’s Refugee Commission (WRC) undertook a joint seven-day assessment mission to Greece and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia in November 2015. This report describes the assessment’s findings and key recommendations for the European Union (EU), transit and destination country governments, humanitarian actors and civil society organizations (CSOs).

Measuring Impact Through a Child Protection Index: Report of Uganda Baseline Study, Kiryandongo and Adjumani Refugee Settlements

UNHCR & the CPC Learning Network, 01 Sep 2015

The CPC Learning Network and UNHCR are collaborating to develop and test a Child Protection Index (CPI), a measure of strength of the child protection system in refugee settings, based on UNHCR’s Framework for the Protection of Children. This report details the results of the baseline study conducted from December 2014-February 2015 in Kiryandongo and Adjumani refugee settlements, Uganda.

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Protecting Children from Violence: A Comprehensive Evaluation of UNICEF’s Strategies and Programme Performance

UNICEF Evaluation Office, 01 Aug 2015

This report on Protecting Children from Violence: A Comprehensive Evaluation of UNICEF’s Strategies and Programme Performance was prepared by independent consultants to evaluate UNICEF's work on violence against children (VAC).