Situations of conflict

This section looks at issues relating to children and young people living in situations of conflict. Another section looks in general at issues facing children and young people living outside of family care. Other sections look in detail at children and young people living on commercial farms, in prisons and on the street.

Key points about children and young people living in situations of conflict are:

  • Conflict and HIV/AIDS have been called a double emergency for children. When they occur together, they increase children's vulnerability through causing parental death and by damaging families and communities that protect and care for children.
  • Conflict affects children and young people in a variety of ways, including the employment of children and young people as soldiers.
  • Conflict increases vulnerability to the spread of HIV/AIDS.
  • Effective responses require training of armed forces and humanitarian staff in how to deal more constructively with children and how to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS.
  • Efforts to provide care for children should focus on reuniting families and rebuilding communities and not on establishing institutions.

HIV/AIDS and Conflict - A Double Emergency

Conflict and HIV/AIDS have been called a double emergency for children. When they occur together, they increase children's vulnerability through causing parental death and by damaging families and communities that protect and care for children. Of the 17 countries with more than 100 000 children orphaned by HIV/AIDS, 13 are affected by conflict.

Conflict affects children and young people in a variety of ways, including the employment of children and young people as soldiers. For example, in Uganda, it is estimated that approximately 10 000 children and young people have been abducted for training as soldiers.

War Spreads HIV

People living in areas affected by conflict are more vulnerable to HIV. Reasons for this include:

  • Community disintegration.
  • Displacement of people.
  • Disruption of families. Children and young people may be separated from their parents.
  • Destruction of services including health and education. In addition, activities to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS are more difficult in conflict situations. Measures that are needed to monitor the way in which HIV is spreading are often not in place.
  • Increase in sexual violence against women, including rape. Rape is used as a weapon of war and is particularly common in refugee camps.
  • Many women sell sex in order to survive in situations of conflict.

People living in refugee camps may be particularly vulnerable to the spread of HIV. Social structures, norms and values may all be affected in camps.

Armed forces may contribute to the spread of HIV. They may encourage local women to trade sex in exchange for protection. They may also buy sex and engage in casual sex in areas where they are based for prolonged periods.

Responses

Effective responses require training of armed forces and humanitarian staff in how to deal more constructively with children and young people and how to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS.

Responses are needed to address the issue of children and young people working as soldiers.

Efforts to provide care for children should focus on reuniting families and rebuilding communities and not on establishing institutions.

Resources

The Care and Protection of Children Affected by Armed Conflict and Disasters (eng)

This document analyses the different approaches and options of housing seperated children, identifying the benefits and downfalls of each.David K. Tolfree, 2003, PDF, 10 pages, 80 kb


Child Soldiers: Global Report (eng)

This global report was produced to identify the distribution and impact of armed conflict on children.Coalition to Stop the use of Child Soldiers, 2004, PDF, 360 pages, 2355 kb


Children not soldiers (eng)

This publication identifies the major changes in children's lives when leaving fighting forces and addresses the need for assistance to help readjust to life in the community.Save the children, 2001, PDF, 108 pages, 324 kb


Children not soldiers, Part 2 (eng)

This document offers advice to prevent children being recruited and efforts to release children already in fighting forces.Save the children, 2001, PDF, 71 pages, 232 kb


Children not soldiers, Part 3 (eng)

This document provides an understanding of the wider social, economic, poplitical and military context of children associated with fighting forces. Giving a broader understanding to enable action to be taken.Save the children, 2001, PDF, 104 pages, 292 kb


Children not soldiers (fr)

Save the children, 2001, PDF, 408 pages, 1000 kb


Children, armed conflict and HIV/AIDS (Eng)

This UNICEF fact sheet outlines the impact of armed conflict on children's vulnerability to HIV & AIDS. It also gives brief details on the UNICEF initiatives in this area.
UNICEF, 2003, PDF, 4 pages, 101 kb

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Mobility mapping and flow diagrams: Tools for Family Tracing and Social Reintegration Work with Separated Children (Eng)

This document details new Particpatory Learning and Action (PLA) tools and techniques to address a wide range of issues relevant to children in difficult circumstances.
International Rescue Committee, Brigette De Lay, PDF, 39 pages, 372 kb

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Family reunification, alternative care and community reintegration of separated children in post-conflict Rwanda (Eng)

This paper provides strategies for reintegrating institutionalized children back into the community in a post-conflict environment. It contains a brief description of IRC Rwanda’s Reunification and Reintegration Program for Unaccompanied Children.
International Rescue Committee, 2003, PDF, 52 pages, 2390 kb


Working with Separated Children Field Guide: Information Sheet Number 4: Children and HIV/AIDS (Eng)

This document is part of a field guide aimed at staff working with separated children.
Save the Children, 1999, PDF, 4 pages, 96 kb.

HIV/AIDS and Children Affected by Armed Conflict (Eng)

This UNICEF fact sheet focuses on the issues relating to armed conflict and HIV and how these affect children.
UNICEF, 2002, PDF, 151 kb.

Child Rights and Child Protection before, during and after conflict: A training manual for military personnel (Eng)

Although not specifically related to HIV, this is an excellent and comprehensive training manual aimed at military trainers and covering a wide range of issues relating to children and conflict.
SCF, ECOWAS/SCF, 2000, PDF, 194 pages, 1409 kb.

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HIV and Conflict: A Double Emergency (Eng)

This document gives a clear and concise overview of issues concerning HIV/AIDS in conflict.
Lawday, A., Save the Children, 2002, PDF, 39 pages, 300 kb.

Meeting on African Children Without Family Care; Windhoek, Namibia; 30 November 2002 (Eng)

At this meeting participants shared knowledge, information, concerns, experience, and possible solutions relating to alternative forms of care for children without family care in Africa.
UNICEF, USAID, FHI, 2002, PDF, 15 pages, 145 kb.

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West and Central Africa Regional Workshop on Orphans and Other Vulnerable Children Workshop Report; Yamoussoukro, Cote d'Ivoire; 8-12 April 2002 (Eng)

This is the workshop report of the West and Central Africa Regional Workshop on Orphans and Other Vulnerable Children, which was held in Yamoussoukro, Cote d'Ivoire from 8-12 April 2002.
UNICEF, UNAIDS, USAID, FHI, International Save the Children Alliance, 2002, PDF, 59 pages, 479 kb.

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Family Reunification, Alternative Care, and Community Reintegration of Seperated Children in Post-Conflict Rwanda (Eng)

This paper by the International Rescue Committee (IRC) presents information about how to reintegrate insitutionalised children into the community in post-conflict Rwanda.
International Rescue Committee, 2003, PDF, 54 pages, 1021 kb.