Library Armed Conflicts

“Will You Listen? Young Voices from Conflict Zones”, 2007 (UNFPA, UNICEF and Women’s Commission)

The voices of young people from Afghanistan, Angola, Burundi, Colombia, Haiti, Iraq, Liberia, Nepal, the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Rwanda, Somalia, Sudan and many other countries affected by war have been brought together in this unique report. It was compiled from the views and recommendations of some 1700 children and young people in 92 countries, collected through a series of focus groups and an online questionnaire. The report is a companion to ‘Children and Conflict in a Changing World’, the 10-year strategic review of the landmark UN report ‘The Impact of Armed Conflict on Children’, widely known as the “Graca Machel study”.To read the report, please visit here 

“Youth and Violent Conflict: Society and Development in Crisis?” (UNDP) 2006

As the focal point for conflict prevention and post-conflict recovery in UNDP, the Bureau for Crisis Prevention and Recovery has embarked on an effort to understand better the intersection between youth and violent conflict. The report represents a first step in this direction.To read the report, please visit here

 

“The Impact of Conflict on Women and Girls in West and Central Africa and the UNICEF response” (UNICEF) 2005

The West and Central Africa region has been racked by conflict over the past decade. Several countries – Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Liberia and Sierra Leone – are still embroiled in, or emerging from, long-term warfare. Women and girls in these countries are most vulnerable to gender-based violence and need special protection measures. This first-of-its-kind study by UNICEF on the situation of war-affected girls and women in the region highlights innovative programmes being implemented with partners to address the impact of conflict, and recommends how UNICEF can more proactively champion the rights of girls – particularly adolescent girls.To read the publication, please visit here

 “Guide to the Optional Protocol on the involvement of children in armed conflict” (UNICEF) 2003

Produced by UNICEF and the “Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers”, this publication is an essential guide to the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child related to children in armed conflict. It describes the context surrounding its adoption, efforts supporting its objectives, key provisions and the legislative processes involved for signature and ratification or accession. The Guide aims to support child rights advocates – including government officials, child protection agencies, humanitarian workers and those involved in national coalitions – in their work to generate momentum and support for ratification and implementation of the Optional Protocol.
To read the publication, please visit here

 

Children and armed conflict: Report of the Secretary-General (A/65/820–S/2011/250), 2011, United Nations

The report examined armed conflicts  occurred in 2010 in Afghanistan, Burundi, the Central African Republic (CAR), Chad, Colombia, Côte d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Haiti, India, Iraq, Lebanon, Myanmar, Nepal, the occupied Palestinian territories and Israel, Pakistan, Philippines, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, southern Thailand, Uganda and Yemen. The report provides information on grave  violations committed against children, in particular the recruitment and use of children, the killing and maiming of children, rape and other sexual violence against children, the abduction of children, attacks on schools and hospitals, and the denial of humanitarian access to children by parties to armed conflict in contravention of applicable international law.

http://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/Children%20in%20armed%20conflict.pdf

 

Children and armed conflict: Report of the Secretary-General (A/65/820–S/2011/250), 2013, United Nations

The report begins by describing a number of emerging challenges regarding the impact of the evolving nature of armed conflict. It also explores some additional tools to enforce compliance by armed forces and armed groups with child rights obligations and provides an update on cooperation with regional organizations. The report then continues by providing information on grave violations committed against children and progress made by parties on dialogue, action plans and other measures to halt and prevent such grave violations. Mali is a new situation covered in this reporting period, while Nepal and Sri Lanka are no longer included following the delisting of all parties within their territories in 2012. The report concludes with a series of recommendations to the Security Council.

http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N13/311/67/PDF/N1331167.pdf?OpenElement

 

Children and armed conflict: Report of the Secretary-General (A/65/820–S/2011/250), 2012, United Nations

The present report provides information on grave violations committed against children, in particular the recruitment and use of children, sexual violence against children, the killing and maiming of children, the abduction of children, attacks on schools and hospitals, and the denial of humanitarian access to children by parties to conflict in contravention of applicable international law. The report also describes progress made by parties to conflict on dialogue and action plans to halt the recruitment and use of children, sexual violence against children and the killing and maiming of children, as well as on the release of children associated with armed forces and armed groups. The report furthermore includes updates on the implementation of specific requests by the Security Council in follow-up of resolution 1998 (2011). The report concludes by outlining a series of recommendations.

http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N12/320/83/PDF/N1232083.pdf?OpenElement

 

Report of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict (A/67/256, United Nations) 2012

Covering the period from August 2011 to August 2012, the report provides an overview of progress on the children and armed conflict agenda, followed by an account of new developments. It also details progress made over the past year, including in efforts to combat impunity and to end the recruitment and use of children; the identification of good practices in the monitoring and reporting of grave violations against children; steps taken towards universal ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict; the mainstreaming of child protection within the United Nations system; collaboration with child protection partners; and awareness-raising. The report highlights emerging issues of concern and opportunities for ensuring the protection of conflict-affected children, focusing on three themes: the prevention of recruitment and use of children by armed forces and groups; the development of further cooperation with regional organizations on the children and armed conflict agenda; and the challenge posed by explosive weapons, in addition to possible avenues for tackling that challenge. The report concludes with a set of actionable recommendations on the protection of children affected by conflict for the attention of the General Assembly.

http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N12/453/08/PDF/N1245308.pdf?OpenElement

 

Children and Justice During and in the Aftermath of Armed Conflict (United Nations) 2011

In modern day warfare, children, both girls and boys, are increasingly becoming the subject of military recruitment, targeted attacks, and sexual violence. The diversity of armed groups and the widespread and easy availability of small arms and light weapons have led to the recruitment and use of hundreds of thousands of child soldiers around the world. Children as young as eight are drawn into violence for a variety of reasons. Some are used by their commanders as frontline combatants, while others carry out support functions. During armed conflicts, many children are forced to witness or to take part in horrifying acts of violence. They suffer from being orphaned, raped, maimed and manipulated to give expression to the hatred of adults.2 Many have lost their families, as well as education opportunities, a chance to enjoy their childhood, and to be part of a community.

http://childrenandarmedconflict.un.org/publications/WorkingPaper-3_Children-and-Justice.pdf

 

Children affected by armed conflict and other situations of violence, (International Committee of the Red Cross) 2011

Armed conflict and other situations of violence take a heavy toll on children’s lives all over the world. This report sheds light on the different initiatives taken by the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement to reintegrate into society children associated with armed forces or armed groups, provide psychosocial support for children affected by violence, and prevent violence in urban settings. It also addresses cross-cutting issues, such as how to ensure youth participation in and local ownership of such initiatives.

http://www.icrc.org/spa/assets/files/publications/icrc-002-4082.pdf