Surviving in the shadows of war: polyvictimised children in post-conflict Angola

Abstract

This article reports on findings from a preliminary study that aims to ascertain the extent to which a group of 30 15-17 year old Angolan juvenile suspects are polyvictims, as defined by Finklehor and colleagues, and the degree to which their victimisation might be attributed to the aftermath of the country's civil war. Analysis of their victimisation identified the majority as being polyvictims. Research into the context of victimisation revealed their neighbourhoods as being of primary importance. Findings confirm a direct link between these children's victimisation and Angola's war history. This article concludes that Angolan authorities need to adopt a psychosocial approach to dealing with the traumatic experiences of these children and their social development