Children in Armed Conflict

Attacks on education and the military use of schools are a major challenge to education provision in conflict-affected countries. In recent years, Education Clusters and Education in Emergencies Working Groups have been increasingly engaged in monitoring, reporting and responding to attacks on education and the military use of schools and using this as a basis for advocacy, prevention and response consistent with the cluster mandate of ensuring a timely and effective education response. This report aims to capture a range of perspectives on the Education Cluster’s role at the global and national levels, and to map the current Education Cluster practices, including the main challenges and lessons learned. The Education Cluster’s role includes contributing to the Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism (MRM) as a means to support accountability and higher level actions and political advocacy alongside cluster monitoring and reporting of attacks on education.

This case example is a complementary resource to the "Children in Armed Conflict Accountability Framework". It demonstrates the practical application of the Framework in Colombia. This is the second in a series of case examples by Conflict Dynamics International to demonstrate how individuals and organizations working in child protection, justice, peacebuilding, and other fields can apply the CAC Accountability Framework in a specific context. The information presented in this case example is intended to illustrate the practical application of the Framework in the context of Colombia. It is not intended to provide a comprehensive review of the state of accountability for serious violations of international law committed against children in armed conflict in Colombia. This tool is also available in Spanish in this database and on the webpage above "CAC Accountability Framework".

Este ejemplo de caso es un recurso complementario del "Marco de Rendición de Cuentas frente a los Niños, las Niñas y los Jóvenes Afectados por los Conflictos Armados: Un marco para la promoción de la rendición de cuentas a las violaciones graves cometidas contra los niños, las niñas y los jóvenes afectados por los conflictos armados" (“Marco de Rendición de Cuentas sobre NNJ”), que muestra la aplicación práctica del Marco de Rendición de Cuentas sobre NNJ en Colombia. Ésta es la segunda de las series de ejemplos de casos por la Conflict Dynamics International que muestra cómo las personas y las organizaciones trabajan en la protección de la niñez y la juventud, la justicia, la consolidación de la paz, y otros campo pueden aplicar al Marco de Rendición de Cuentas sobre NNJ en un contexto específico.

This case example is a complementary resource to the "Children in Armed Conflict Accountability Framework". It demonstrates the practical application of the Framework in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). This is the first in a series of case examples by Conflict Dynamics International to demonstrate how individuals and organizations working in child protection, justice, peacebuilding, and other fields can apply the CAC Accountability Framework in a specific context. This tool is also available in French in this database and on the webpage above "CAC Accountability Framework".

Cet exemple de cas constitue un complément au «Cadre relatif à l’obligation redditionnelle afférente aux enfants dans les conflits armés : Un Cadre pour la promotion de l’obligation redditionnelle pour violations graves commises contre les enfants en période de conflit armé (ECA) » (« Le Cadre relatif à l’obligation redditionnelle ECA »). Il présente l’application pratique du Cadre relatif à l’obligationredditionnelle ECA en République démocratique du Congo (RDC). Il s’agit de la première d’une série d’exemples de cas réalisées par Conflict Dynamics International afin d’illustrer la façon dont les personnes et les organisations travaillant dans les secteurs de la protection de l’enfant, la justice, la consolidation de la paix et autres domaines peuvent appliquer le Cadre relatif à l’obligation redditionnelle ECA dans un contexte précis.

This Framework is a practical resource that promotes accountability for serious violations of international law committed against children in armed conflict (CAC). It responds to the significant gap that exists in preventing and remedying these serious violations - and is designed to assist policymakers and practitioners working at all levels to bridge this gap. It provides individuals and organizations working in child protection, justice, peacebuilding, and related fields with a comprehensive definition and structure for understanding CAC accountability and practical guidance for developing well-informed, context-specific, and feasible options for advancing CAC accountability.

The Dallaire Initiative partnered with The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) to develop a set of Core Competencies for all security sector training related to child soldiers. The document also provides an overview of the international legal framework relating to the protection of children in armed conflict.

The checklist is intended to provide guidance and increase understanding for OSCE field staff and other OSCE actors working on displacement and protection in the conflict cycle. Throughout the resource, consideration is given to children in conflict and displacement. Stages in the conflict cycle include early warning and prevention, crisis management in acute conflict, conflict management in protracted conflict, and post-conflict transition and rehabilitation.

This resource outlines what the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and its partners should do to protect children from sexual violence. Action areas include legal and policy framework; knowledge and data; coordination; human and financial capacity; advocacy and awareness; and prevention and response.

This resource outlines what UNHCR and its partners should do regarding alternative care programs for children. Action areas include legal and policy framework; knowledge and data; coordination; human and financial capacity; advocacy and awareness; and prevention and response.

This resource provides a ten-point checklist to assist Security Council experts and others in mainstreaming the protection of children affected by armed conflict in country-specific Security Council resolutions. This list includes encouraging the implementation of action plans, using sanctions to pressure perpetrators, demanding accountability, and encouraging DDRRR (disarmament, demobilization, repatriation, reintegration and resettlement). This resource also contains a compilation of Security Council Resolutions on Children and Armed Conflict approved by the UN.

Citing 130 domestic laws from 68 countries, this resource provides models laws on child protection, including protection of children in situations of emergency and armed conflict, for legislators drafting or amending child protection laws. These model laws are based upon international standards and best practices on child protection, including the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and the Optional Protocol to the CRC on the involvement of children in armed conflict (OPAC).

This resource provides guidance on creating a complaints and response mechanism (CRM) in a child-friendly manner. Using a pilot case study from Ifo Camp, Dabaab, North Eastern Kenya, this resource provides information on setting up a CRM, awareness raising, recording complaints, challenges, and lessons learned. The annex includes a stakeholder mapping tools used during their consultations with children.

Comprising of five tools, this resource is intended for international NGOs, international organizations, government partners, or other organizations that require child protection measures. Tool 1 describes protection standards; tool 2 provides guidelines on how agencies can implement child protection measures; tools 3, 4, and 5 provide training exercises and materials to understand child protection, child protection in emergency contexts, as well as children’s participation. Page 53 of Tool 2 provides guidance on preventing harm to children during emergency or humanitarian crises

This resource is intended to help practitioners develop comprehensive national child protection systems and prioritize actions. Mapping and assessment should include an analysis of the current child protection system, an understanding of the legal and normative framework, highlighting key risks, identifying global best practices, finding opportunities to improve services, and planning for the necessary financial and human resources.

This resource aims to assist donor governments, workers, employers and NGOs to combat trafficking in children for labor, sexual, and other forms of exploitation. Exploitation is defined to include the forced or compulsory recruitment of children. The training manual includes three textbooks, an exercise book, and facilitator’s guide.

A companion to UN ECOSOC’s Guidelines on Justice in Matters involving Child Victims and Witnesses of Crimes, this resource is intended to assist the design or review of laws and practices regarding child victims and witnesses of crimes. These model laws can assist States in adapting their legislation to meet the provisions contained in the guidelines or other international instruments such as the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC).

Developed in collaboration with UN agencies, government, and non-governmental and community-based organizations, this resource sets out the process for developing a standard operating procedure (SOP) to prevent and respond to gender-based violence (GBV) in various stages of an emergency. An SOP template is available beginning on page 7.

Chapter 11 of this resource examines protection of persons with specific needs in a camp setting, including boys and girls, youth, women, and persons with disabilities. Each chapter includes a checklist for a camp management agency and a list of tools. This resource also considers camp issues such as participation and community involvement, protection, gender-based violence, education, and livelihoods.

This resource provides an overview of the legal standards and responsibilities to protect women and girls. It discusses issues such as displacement, prevention, reintegration, participation in peacebuilding processes, and the administration of justice during displacement for formal, traditional, and transitional mechanisms. Chapter 6 provides an overview of the international and regional legal framework. This resource is intended for UNHRC staff, both at headquarters and in the field, and protection partners.

This resource provides a practical guide for implementing effective reparations programs. It focuses on establishing out-of-court reparations programs to redress gross and serious violations of human rights in conflict settings. It also examines kinds of benefits, financing reparations, linking with other justice measures, and making programs gender-sensitive.

Part of a larger gender and security sector reform (SSR) toolkit, this resource examines existing SSR assessment frameworks and considers how to include a gender perspective in these existing tools and approaches. It also looks at gender mainstreaming initiatives in security sector institutions and provides guidance on conducting a gender audit and monitoring and evaluation of gender mainstreaming. This resource recommends consulting marginalized groups, such as child advocacy groups, in the monitoring and evaluation process

This resource aims to guide UNICEF regional and country offices in programming for child rights in legislative reform and creating the necessary human and financial resources for legislative reform. This resource links the issue of legislative reform to the key international policies and laws and emphasizes the importance of the national legal system. The resource concludes by examining cross-cutting issues and challenges and provides indicators, sample program plans, and checklists.

Prepared for UNICEF staff working to assist children and women in emergencies, this resource assists in identifying and prioritizing needs of children and designing and implementing interventions in unstable environments. It covers topics such as education, children separated from families, protecting the rights of the child, internally displaced children and women, child combatants, and juvenile justice.

This resource provides guidance on vetting in post-conflict settings. It includes an overview of factors that determine a vetting process, designing a vetting process, different types of vetting, and other relevant institutional reforms. The annex includes a vetting checklist, a capacity and integrity framework, and relevant conventions and codes for vetting in security and judicial sectors.

This resource is intended to assist field staff design gender-based violence (GBV) services and GBV legal aid using a participatory approach. Intended for actors in the humanitarian, justice, and security sector, this toolkit provides a preliminary assessment tool, action planning worksheets, and guidelines and indicators on monitoring and evaluating gender-based violence programs.

Developed by the IASC Task Force on Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, this resource details steps taken when NGO staff or UN agency staff are suspected of sexual exploitation and abuse of women or children. Intended to build a consistent approach across all agencies, this resource provides an overview of complaints mechanisms, investigation guidelines, and interviewing witnesses and victims. Interview guidelines pay special attention to interviewing children.

Intended for staff in emergency situations, this resource focuses on the prevention of gender-based violence in emergency field operations. It includes Save the Children’s programming framework, principles, and process. Section III on page 9 provides an overview of international legal and policy instruments. Page 46 includes an implementation checklist.

This resource provides a thematic overview of key child protection concerns, including international law and policy instruments, and guidance on programming in emergencies. The appendix includes sample forms and assessment questions. The annex includes sample forms to use with separated children and assessment questions.

This resource is a compilation of legal standards and norms regarding children and armed conflict, including the rights of the child, international humanitarian law, law on refugees and internally displaced persons, international criminal law, and UN Security Council resolutions.

This resource provides an overview of Save the Children’s work in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, including its disarmament, demobilization, reintegration (DDR) activities. The Annex includes examples of various forms used in their programming, including documentation of children, history of mobilization, and certificate of reintegration forms.