Children and Political Violence: At the Intersection of Rights and Realities (original) (raw)
Related papers
Bath Papers in International Development & Wellbeing, No.31, 2014
This paper begins with reflection upon the specific protection needs of children in settings of political violence as identified by child protection actors. It then considers the nature of institutional response offered by child-focussed humanitarian organisations. Particular attention will be paid to the challenges of public advocacy addressing the sources of harm to the young, taking into account the political agendas and sensitivities attendant to many of the world’s conflict zones. From this perspective, the piece constitutes a call to consider child protection in broader political-economic context, concluding with analysis of key ways in which the field requires further development if it is to ensure not just the healing of children harmed by political violence but also more effective prevention of such harm in the first instance.
The International Journal of Human Rights
This introduction provides the rationale for the special issue of the International Journal of Human Rights on the topic of the children's right to participation and protection in international development and humanitarian efforts. It summarises selected contributions relating to an international conference entitled 'Facilitating Child Participation in International Child Protection' that took place 5-6 October 2015 at Ryerson University in Toronto (Canada). The concepts of child participation and child protection are explored. Then, the challenges and opportunities are highlighted regarding the actual and potential participatory role of children and young people in effective child protection. Finally, an overview of the articles included in this collection is provided.
Children, Agency and Violence: In and beyond the United Nations study on violence against children
2009
This paper examines the role of child agency as it relates to child protection. The focus arises from recognition that child protection approaches can be ineffective, and even counterproductive, when local context is not given sufficient attention (Bissell et al., 2007). The prevailing child protection models - child rescue, social services and medical models - commonly neglect local community assets, including the role of children themselves. Yet in many cases these assets may play a critical role, particularly when family and community are the primary line of defence to protect children from violence and exploitation. Rethinking child protection from a rights perspective requires building on empirical and theoretical understandings of child agency and child development, and the interactions between them.
LEGAL PROTECTION OF CHILDREN IN ARMED CONFLICTS
Protecting Children's Rights in Civil, Criminal and International Law – Under a Touch of Digitalization, 2024
This chapter highlights the mechanisms and means used by international law to protect children in armed conflict situations. Children frequently find themselves as participants in both national and international conflicts and face the dual challenges of victimisation or coercion into taking up arms for the sake of war efforts. International law responds to these challenges by offering legal instruments, notably conventions and protocols, explicitly designed to address the unique vulnerabilities of children living in conflict zones. The author analyses the comprehensive international legal framework engaged in the battle against the infringement of children's rights during times of war and the profound consequences arising from such violations. By highlighting the important role of child protection within the international legal arsenal, this chapter substantially contributes to the ongoing discourse surrounding the fortification of mechanisms designed to safeguard children’s rights in the complexities of armed conflict.
The Effects of Armed Conflicts on Children, 2023
Armed conflicts continue to inflict profound and long-lasting harm on children across various regions worldwide, with Iraq, Syria, and Yemen standing out as some of the most heavily affected nations. These countries have faced protracted conflicts marked by widespread violence, forced displacement, and severe humanitarian crises. Tragically, children often bear the brunt of these conflicts, suffering unimaginable hardships that irreversibly shape their lives and futures. This book, co-authored by a team of experts, delves into the multidimensional impact of these conflicts on children, offering a critical and comprehensive analysis. The book highlights the unique challenges faced by children in Iraq, Syria, and Yemen, presenting a detailed examination of the factors that exacerbate their vulnerability. It aims to underscore the urgent need for coordinated international efforts to protect, support, and rehabilitate affected children, who are among the most innocent and voiceless victims of war. Through this analysis, the book advocates for sustainable solutions to mitigate the consequences of conflict and prioritize the well-being of children in these regions. In these war-torn nations, armed conflict has dismantled communities, destroyed essential infrastructure, and fractured the social fabric. The consequences for children are devastating, ranging from physical injuries and mental health challenges to the loss of educational opportunities and restricted access to healthcare. The book sheds light on these critical issues, emphasizing the compounded effects of these crises on children’s ability to envision and pursue a secure and hopeful future. A significant focus of this book is the recruitment and use of children by armed groups and forces, a harrowing reality in conflict zones. It explores the coercive tactics used to transform children into soldiers, spies, messengers, or human shields, robbing them of their childhood and exposing them to life-threatening dangers. The psychological and physical abuse they endure often leaves deep and enduring scars, perpetuating cycles of violence and suffering. Beyond analysis, the book seeks to inspire action by addressing gaps in legal frameworks, highlighting successful interventions, and proposing practical recommendations to strengthen protection mechanisms for children in conflict zones. By amplifying the voices of those most affected and drawing on international humanitarian and human rights law, this work serves as both a call to action and a resource for policymakers, humanitarian organizations, and scholars dedicated to safeguarding the rights and futures of children amidst armed conflict.
2021
One in five children lives in a country affected by conflict (Save the Children 2019). Despite concerted international and national efforts to protect children, these 415 million children face grave human rights violations that continue to rise. More political will and resources are needed from governments and parties to the conflict to prevent such violence against children and protect children in armed conflict. However, research confirms that out of 431 ceasefire and peace agreements, less than 18 percent of peace agreements included child protection provisions (Watchlist on Children and Armed Conflict). Often, peace-related documents that mention child protection issues do not mention integrating children's participation into peace processes, which is essential to understanding and addressing children's needs during and after the conflict. To end the cycle of violence against children, a paradigm shift must be made in the way peace agreements address children's issues and rights. Guided by the "Global Policy Paper on Youth Participation in the Peace Process," commissioned by the United Nations Envoy on Youth, this paper recommends that mediators and child protection actors employ three integrated but non-hierarchical layers for including child protection issues and children's participation in the peace process: "in the room," "around the room," and "outside the room" of formal peace negotiations. This multi-layered, inclusive approach may help achieve the desired results: preventing violence against children and reaching a sustainable peace. "Everyone talks about 'the impact of war on children.' But how do you measure the impact of war? Who suffers the greater horror, the child who is violated or the child who is forced to become a perpetrator? We are the victim, the perpetrator, and the witness, all at once."-Truth and Reconciliation Commission Report for the Children of Sierra Leone 2004.