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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Getting It Right, Doing It Right: Gender and Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration

Sarah Douglas, Vanessa Farr, Felicity Hill, and Wenny Kasuma, 2004

A model standard operating procedure designed to promote the integration of women’s needs into the planning and execution of DDR programming. Includes case studies, lessons learned, and practical guidance.

http://www.crin.org/docs/Getting_it_right.pdf

Implementing the Collaborative Response to Situations of Internal Displacement: Guidance for UN Humanitarian/Resident Coordinators and Country Teams

2004

A document with guidelines and the framework for a comprehensive and accurate response to the problem of displaced persons.

Summary Table of IHL Provisions Specifically Applicable to Children

ICRC, 2004

Summary table of provisions of international humanitarian law and other provisions of international law specifically applicable to children in war.

Inter-agency Guiding Principles on Unaccompanied and Separated Children

ICRC, UNHCR, UNICEF, Save the Children UK, and International Rescue Committee, 2004

A comprehensive framework to ensure that the rights and needs of separated children are effectively addressed. Guidelines aim to promote and support preparedness, coordination and good practice based on lessons learned. Addresses all aspects of an emergency from preventing separations, to family tracing and reunification, through to long-term solutions.

Protection of Persons with Specific Needs. Chapter 11 from Camp Management Tool Kit

Norwegian Refugee Council/ The Camp Management Project , 31 Dec 2003

A guide for camp management agencies that provides instruction on the care and protection of all children (under 18), as well as those with specific needs, such as unaccompanied and separated children, child heads of households, children formerly associated with armed forces, and out-of-school and unemployed adolescents and youth.

Working With Conflict-Affected Children and Adolescents Innovative Approaches and Practices Series: Community-Based Reunification & Reintegration of Separated Children in Post-Conflict Rwanda

Brigette De Lay - IRC-Rwanda, 01 Aug 2003

This paper hopes to contribute to a sorely under-documented field of how to reintegrate institutionalized children back into the community in a post-conflict environment. It provides a brief description of IRC Rwanda’s Reunification and Reintegration Program for Unaccompanied Children, emphasizing its innovative nature and promising field methodologies. It includes a review of core principles and a programmatic overview of center and community-based work, outlining key steps in the process. It also provides a brief review of good practices and offer some points of reflection for future work with children in post-conflict situations.

Save the Children's Policy on Protecting Children from Sexual Abuse and Exploitation

Save the Children Alliance, 2003

A policy paper that presents a holistic view of child sexual abuse and exploitation examining all the situations where children are sexually abused.

Are Orphans Especially Vulnerable? Evidence from Rwanda

Corinne Siaens, K. Subbarao, and Quentin Wodon, 2003

This research paper explores the condition of orphaned children in Rwanda. The paper urges the design of appropriate social protection mechanisms, including differentiated policy responses, conditional cash transfers and increased access to education.

The Role of Education in Protecting Children in Conflict

Susan Nicolai and Carl Triplehom, 2003

Examines the link between education and the protection needs of children, with a particular focus on the role of education in emergency response.

Protecting Children Affected by Armed Conflict and Displacement: An Introductory Training Module

Action for the Rights of Children, 2003

Training module outlining key principles concerning the protection of children affected by armed conflict and displacement. Topics include legal frameworks, identifying protection issues, threats to children in emergencies, and promoting healthy child development.