Children and fighting forces: 10 years on from Cape Town.
It is 10 years since the adoption of the Cape Town Principles and Best Practices on the Prevention of Recruitment of Children into the Armed Forces and on Demobilization and Social Reintegration of Child Soldiers in Africa. The field of programming for the reintegration of children associated with armed forces and armed groups has made significant strides in this period. However, important gaps in the knowledge base remain. This paper examines empirical evidence that supports lessons learned from work with children formerly connected with fighting forces. It evaluates what is known, where promising practice exists, and lacunae in five programming areas: psychosocial support and care; community acceptance; education, training and livelihoods; inclusive programming for all war-affected children; and follow-up and monitoring. While the 2007 Paris Commitments to Protect Children from Unlawful Recruitment or Use by Armed Forces or Groups mark an emerging consensus on many issues, there is still a critical need for more systematic studies to develop the evidence base supporting intervention in this area.
Stark
Lindsay
L
Program on Forced Migration and Health, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 60 Haven Avenue, New York, NY 10032, United States. ls2302@columbia.edu
Boothby
Neil
N
Ager
Alastair
A
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D019985:Benchmarking; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse; D002669:Child Welfare / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008887:Military Medicine; D008889:Military Personnel; D008960:Models, Psychological; D012944:Social Support; D013019:South Africa; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D013997:Time Factors; D014857:Warfare