Uganda
Beyond the impact on peace and stability, there is indeed the human dimension...
Beyond the impact on peace and stability, there is indeed the human dimension of the tragedy of children caught up in armed conflict. Unfortunately, there have been many instances of violent conflict where children have been used as bearers, cooks, messengers and sex slaves, and others have been involved in combat, taking human lives. Besides child soldiers, all children become victims in one way or another during armed conflicts. They become victims when they are displaced or when their Government cannot ensure adequate funding for schools and health clinics, resulting in very low school participation rates and high infant mortality rates.
No country emerging from war can, without risk, leave its young people on the...
No country emerging from war can, without risk, leave its young people on the sidelines without any future, knowing only a culture of violence. Programmes for disarming, demobilizing and reintegrating combatants must therefore take into account the specific needs of children, in particular young girls, who are even more severely affected than boys and whose reintegration is even more difficult. In Uganda, following the end of the Lord's Resistance Army insurgency in 2006, one of the priorities of the Government was reintegration of formerly abducted children into their families and communities.
At the same time, all parties to armed conflicts should strive to meet their ...
At the same time, all parties to armed conflicts should strive to meet their obligations under relevant international law and to respect and safeguard the rights of children. In post-conflict situations, the return of children to their families, schools and communities as well as the provision of sufficient resources should be prioritized. Young boys and girls kidnapped or coerced into joining armed groups must be freed to live the rest of their lives without the stigma or trauma of those early years shadowing their future.