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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Education in Emergencies and for Reconstruction: A Developmental Approach

Mary Joy Pigozzi, 1999

Outlines strategies for responding to education needs in communities affected by crisis or chronic instability. Includes a summary of UNICEF’s approach, some practical information on implementation, and an identification of areas where more work is needed.

Prevention of Street Migration: Resource Pack

Consortium for Street Children and University College Cork, Ireland, 1999

Presents case studies of interventions aimed at preventing street migration. Some emphasis on methods for identifying high-risk groups.

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Children Without Parents - A Ghanaian Case Study

Nana Apt - Centre for Social Policy Studies, University of Ghana, 01 May 1997

This chapter provides an overview of a child care institution, the Osu Children’s Home, in Ghana.

Basic Rules of the Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols

N/A , 1983

Summarizes the rules of international humanitarian law in armed conflicts.

After Zero Tolerance (Full Documentary)

This documentary chronicles a Honduran family’s struggle to reunite after being separated at the U.S.-Mexico border three years earlier under the Trump administration’s immigration policies.

Child Soldiers World Index

Child Soldiers International,

This Child Soldiers World Index from Child Soldiers International is the global authority on the recruitment and use of children by state armed forces and non-state armed groups.

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