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Girl child soldiers

Reaching all: core principles for working with children associated with armed groups and forces

Guidelines for ending child and youth involvement in armed groups and forces

Authors: ; Save the Children
Publisher: Save the Children Fund , 2005

Full text of document

This report highlights that the risks of conflict impacting directly on children has greatly increased, as has the involvement of children in hostilities. Children are used in a variety of roles, for example as cooks, porters and spies, and for sexual services.

This paper outlines the critical issues for children associated with armed groups and forces. It argues that family unity and community-based approaches offer the best opportunity for durable reintegration and protection. Such approaches demand continued support during, and even long after, the end of violent conflict.

The report’s main recommendations to prevent child recruitment and promote the reintegration of children associated with armed actors, include:

  • consistent use and allocation of resources in line with the Cape Town definition, recognising that all children associated with armed actors require protection, not just those that carry weapons
  • developing an integrated approach to child protection which recognises that all children living in situations of armed conflict are affected and at risk of recruitment
  • establishing increased recognition of and allocation of resources to meet the special requirements of girls associated with armed actors and their dependents
  • building strategies to prevent recruitment, based on an informed understanding of the reasons for and forms of recruitment
  • promoting processes which build upon girls and boys own insights, views and self-protection strategies and which strengthen their active role in society
  • supporting ratification, implementation and monitoring of the Optional Protocol on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict as a minimum standard
  • enforcing international legal obligations to demobilise children during ongoing conflict
  • supporting sustained and inclusive community-based support for reintegration.