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Critical issue module 7Children associated with armed forces or armed groups

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Topic 1

The issue for children

Topic 2

The law and child rights

Topic 3

Assessment and situation analysis

Topic 4

Planning and implementation

Topic 5

Monitoring, evaluation and learning

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Topic 1

The issue for children

Working with children associated with armed forces or armed groups:

approach and key principles

Key learning points

The recruitment and use of children by armed forces or armed groups is a

gross violation of their rights and must be addressed urgently. Recruitment

occurs for a vast range of reasons and reflects a failure on the part of duty

bearers to provide protection for children.

The participation of those affected: children, their families and communities,

in all aspects of prevention, protection, release and reintegration is essential.

Measures to prevent recruitment and support the release and reintegration of

children from armed forces or groups should be carried out within a broad

child protection framework that includes all children affected by emergencies.

Targeting individual children is likely to increase the stigma and impede

reintegration and should be avoided.

(Continued)

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The specific needs of girls and their children should be given particular

attention in all aspects of work with children associated with armed forces or

groups. One way to achieve this is through ensuring programmes are

sufficiently flexible to respond to their stated needs.

Continuous efforts will be required to educate donors and advocate for

flexible and long-term funding.

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Topic 2

The law and child rights

A rights-based approach; legal and normative framework relating to

recruitment and use of children by armed forces or armed groups

Key learning points

A child rights-based approach, meaning that all interventions are developed

within a human rights framework, should underpin all actions to prevent

recruitment, support the release and reintegration of children and provide

protection.

A child development perspective should inform all aspects of work with

children associated with armed forces or groups. This should include

recognising the individual capacities and resources of children in surviving

and overcoming their difficulties.

In addition to legal instruments, a range of non-binding standards or

principles apply to the recruitment of children associated with armed forces

or armed groups.

(Continued)

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Knowledge of national law, customary law and practices of communities is

also very important for those working with children associated with armed

forces or armed groups.

An understanding of relevant law and standards is essential in order to lobby

parties to the conflict and the international community to fulfil their legal

responsibilities and also to guide the assistance and protection of children.

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Relevant CRC articles

Article 38

The protection of children in armed conflict

Article 20

Protection of children without families

Article 39

Recovery and social reintegration

Articles 28 and 29

The right to education

Article 37

Prohibition of torture and the deprivation of liberty

Article 40

Treatment in the juvenile justice system

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Other human rights treaties which protect children from recruitment

The ILO Convention No 182 on the Prohibition and immediate action

for the elimination of the worst forms of child labour, which defines

forced and compulsory recruitment of children in armed conflict as one of

the worst forms of child labour (and defines children as under 18 years).

The Rome statute of the international criminal court, which states

that conscripting or enlisting children under 15 years into national armed

forces or groups or using them to participate actively in all kinds of

hostilities, is a war crime.

The Guiding principles on internal displacement (1998), which state

that in no circumstances shall displaced children be recruited nor be required

or permitted to take part in hostilities.

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Regional instruments and initiatives relevant to the prevention

of child recruitment

The African charter on the rights and welfare of the child, which is

legally binding for the countries which have ratified it, establishes the age

of 18 as the minimum age for recruitment and participation in any armed

force or armed group.

Association of South-east Asian nations (ASEAN) Declaration on the

commitments for children in ASEAN (2001).

The adoption of Guidelines on children and armed conflict by the European

Union in 2003 and the Implementation strategy for the guidelines agreed

in January 2006.

Resolution 1904 of the Organisation of American states in 2002.

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Topic 3

Assessment and situation analysis

Understanding the reasons for recruitment

Key learning points

Children are recruited into armed forces or armed groups for many different

reasons and as a result of different underlying causes.

Situation analysis is critical in order to understand the precise interplay of

factors relating to recruitment in any situation and develop strategies that

respond to these factors, and should include: a gender analysis, analysis of

power dynamics and the motivation of those recruiting children.

Where possible a child rights situation analysis (CRSA) should be undertaken

which considers all the rights children are not enjoying, including protection

from recruitment. This should be carried out within the context of a broader

situation analysis relating to the emergency and humanitarian response.

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Topic 4

Planning and implementation

Implementation strategies: prevention of and response to recruitment

Key learning points

Where there is evidence of recruitment, or the potential for this to take place,

urgent actions should always be taken to prevent recruitment.

A prevention strategy should include: the application of relevant law and

standards, practical measures to improve children’s safety and programming

to prevent recruitment within a broad child protection framework.

The prevention strategy should be designed in consultation with children,

families and communities. It should build on and develop the children’s, their

families’ and their communities’ own actions to prevent recruitment.

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Topic 5

Monitoring, evaluation and learning

Key learning points

Indicators must measure the reintegration of CAAFAG and their wellbeing

following their reintegration into family and the community. But reintegration

is a long-term process.

Monitoring and evaluation should assess whether CAAFAG are being

appropriately identified and protected through programme implementation

without causing stigmatisation. Especially girls fall through the cracks of the

systems and programmes need to monitor and evaluate whether the gender

dimension has been addressed appropriately.

A monitoring and evaluation system should be set up at the start of a

programme with indicators, collecting, analysing and using data to improve

the wellbeing of vulnerable children, CAAFAG or others.

Rights-based monitoring and evaluation should be participatory, thereby

involving children themselves, culturally appropriate, ethical and monitor

fulfilment of rights as well as needs.