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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Guidelines for Gender-Based Violence Interventions in Humanitarian Settings: Focusing on Prevention of and Response to Sexual Violence in Emergencies

United Nations Inter-Agency Standing Committee, 2005

Comprehensive guidelines for dealing with the planning, establishment, and coordination of multisectoral interventions to prevent and respond to sexual and gender-based violence.

Reaching All: Core Principles for Working with Children Associated with Armed Groups and Forces

Emma Visman, 2005

Outlines the critical issues for children associated with armed conflict. Includes recommended strategies for preventing child recruitment and promoting reintegration.

Transnational Fosterage of War-Affected Children in West Africa: Immediate Coping Capacities Across Borders

Susan Shepler, 2005

A research study conducted with refugee children from Côte d’Ivoire and Liberia, and their foster caregivers in rural Guinea. Explores the experiences of both children and foster caregivers, and examines the role of ethnicity, gender and education. Highlights the significant capacity of a community to provide protection and care of refugee children, and offers recommendation for future research and programming.

Empowering and Healing Battered Women

Admira Foundation, 2005

Training manual for a three-day course (targeted at care workers) on domestic violence. Focus on empowering battered women to find safety and regain control.

Mental and Social Health During and After Acute Emergencies: Emerging Consensus?

Mark van Ommeren, Shekhar Saxena, and Benedetto Saraceno, 2005

A summary of the debate on the value of PTSD and trauma-focused care during and after acute emergencies. Argues for and outlines distinct intervention strategies to be considered for acute emergency and post-emergency phases.

Reach Out Refugee Protection Training Project Optional Module on Gender-Based Violence (GBV)

Reach Out Refugee Protection Training Project , 2005

This module is designed to increase field staff awareness, knowledge, and understanding on gender-based violence (GBV) and aims ultimately to contribute to the effective protection of refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs).

Youth in War-to-Peace Transitions: Approaches of International Organizations

Yvonne Kemper, 2005

This study explores four guiding questions: First, what approaches have international organizations developed regarding youth? Second, on which assumptions about youth and their role in violent conflicts are they based? Third, how do the different approaches affect program development, and, fourth, are they are compatible?

Support to Former Child Soldiers: Programming and Proposal Evaluation Guide

CIDA, 2005

Concise guide designed to aid the implementation of best practice principles concerning the disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration of child soldiers. Includes a risk-analysis matrix and a results-based grid for programme proposal evaluations.

Fighting Back: Child and Community-led Strategies to Avoid Children's Recruitment into Armed Forces and Groups in West Africa

Emily Delap, 2005

A research study which explores strategies used by children, families and communities to prevent child recruitment into armed forces.

Facing the Crisis: Supporting Children Through Positive Care Options

David Tolfree, 2005

A paper with guidelines for keeping children with families and providing proper care and protection for them. It provides examples and plans for those interested in planning care for separated children.