Reintegration of child soldiers : a literature review with particular focus on girl soldiers' reintegration in the DRC

The present report seeks to impart key findings in existing literature on child soldiers’ reintegration process, as well as to highlight areas and topics which require more research. The review describes available literature and research related to the reintegration of former child soldiers in general, but with a particular focus on girl soldiers and the reintegration process in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Attention is also given to how local civil society in the DRC contributes to such reintegration processes. The review presents summaries of more than one hundred texts on child soldiers and reintegration, and highlights some of the major recent trends and developments in the literature. Important issues addressed in gender-sensitive studies on reintegration are discussed, as well as other elements which need further research and understanding Despite increased focus on child soldiering, research on the reintegration process of former child soldiers in the DRC is still largely missing. Girl soldiers have barely received any attention at all. Moreover, very little written documentation exists on local civil society’s engagement in reintegration processes. Research must address these gaps in knowledge and, with in-depth studies, provide information that may improve the support given young girls and boys as they make their way back to civilian life

Review of the Tanzania-Norway NUFU Programme (2007-2011) : Submitted to the Norwegian Centre for International Cooperation in Higher Education (SIU)

The scope of the ‘The Tanzania - Norway NUFU Programme 2007 - 2011’ is to support academic cooperation in the area of management of natural resources, forestry, fisheries and/or wildlife, with a focus on good governance and a reliable public administration. The focus of the review has been on its efficiency, effectiveness, relevance, and sustainability. The evaluators reviewed the Programme’s gender approach, risk management, and anti-corruption measures. A special emphasis was also given to ‘policy dialogue’ with relevant policy makers, as this dialogue is viewed as an important tool for achieving impact of development. Finally, the review sought to provide recommendations to guide the further implementation of the Programme. All in all, the review concludes that the ‘The Tanzania - Norway NUFU Programme 2007 - 2011’ has to a large extent been successfully implemented from its start and until spring 2010. The academic cooperation between SUA and UDSM and their Norwegian counterpart, UMB, seems to function relatively smoothly. The Programme has succeeded in recruiting PhD candidates and Master students, and in total reached 50% female participation among students. The Programme has significantly contributed to capacity building at SUA and UDSM. Its thematic focus is of relevance to national policies both in Tanzania and in Norway, and our findings show that the thematic approach of the four projects supported is of central value to the institutions involved. The review finds that project coordinators at both sides are actively involved in decision-making. The potential of impacting on development in Tanzania will clearly increase if the Programme performs well in relation to the number of scientific publications, dissemination and policy-dialogue, as well as the development of study programmes. The Programme should moreover enhance its gender mainstreaming efforts, and better integrate gender issues into the projects’ thematic focus

Narratives of symbolic objects : exploring relational wellbeing of young refugees living in Scotland, Finland, and Norway

Background: In this study, objects are used as a representation of relational wellbeing to help young refugees living in Norway, Scotland, and Finland to talk about important persons who make them feel well. At the time of this research, there is no known study that uses objects to facilitate narratives of how young refugees and members of their social networks generate relational wellbeing. Methods: Using a qualitative approach, young refugees participated in individual interviews about the objects they brought to art workshops to understand their experiences, feelings, and acts of wellbeing. Results: Treating each object as unique to the owner was powerful in revealing how relational wellbeing is experienced and expressed. There were overlaps in experiences and expressions of wellbeing, hence our themes of discussion: overlaps between old and new social ties; between time and space; and between the three constructs of relational wellbeing. Old ties were not forgotten; instead, they evolved to a different form, supporting young refugees from a distance, while new ties contributed to what is needed in their present and at their current age. Experiences of relational wellbeing transcended time and space between their disrupted places of origin, their experiences on the journey, and settling in their new countries. The constructs of relational wellbeing—feeling good, being connected, and having enough—were inseparable in the participants’ experiences. Conclusions: We conclude that these overlaps have implications for a relational wellbeing approach in theory and practice. The results leave a challenge for both researchers and practitioners to develop complex research and intervention methods that can capture these tapestries of young refugees’ experiences of relational wellbeing

Reintegration of child soldiers : a literature review with particular focus on girl soldiers' reintegration in the DRC

The present report seeks to impart key findings in existing literature on child soldiers’ reintegration process, as well as to highlight areas and topics which require more research. The review describes available literature and research related to the reintegration of former child soldiers in general, but with a particular focus on girl soldiers and the reintegration process in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Attention is also given to how local civil society in the DRC contributes to such reintegration processes. The review presents summaries of more than one hundred texts on child soldiers and reintegration, and highlights some of the major recent trends and developments in the literature. Important issues addressed in gender-sensitive studies on reintegration are discussed, as well as other elements which need further research and understanding Despite increased focus on child soldiering, research on the reintegration process of former child soldiers in the DRC is still largely missing. Girl soldiers have barely received any attention at all. Moreover, very little written documentation exists on local civil society’s engagement in reintegration processes. Research must address these gaps in knowledge and, with in-depth studies, provide information that may improve the support given young girls and boys as they make their way back to civilian life

A troublesome transition: Social reintegration of girl soldiers returning ‘home’

Background:  Despite increased attention the last couple of decades, child soldiering continues to be a major global challenge and it is estimated that there is approximately 300,000 child soldiers globally. One conflict which has seen the use of child soldiers is the ongoing armed conflict in the eastern provinces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Diverting from the media image of a child soldier being a young boy with an AK47, girls often constitute a significant number of children involved with armed groups. In many armed groups in the DRC as well as in other conflict-ridden contexts, girls are estimated to count for 30-40% of child soldiers. Article 39 in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child gives children who are victims of war and armed conflict the right to physical and psychological recovery and social reintegration. A successful social reintegration implies that former child soldiers, girls as well as boys, feel part of and are accepted by their family and community. The return ‘home’ has, however, proven to be troublesome and complicated, not least for female child soldiers who commonly experience more stigmatization than males. Aim: The main purpose of this research is to investigate and provide insight into how former girl soldiers in eastern Congo experience their return ‘home’ from armed forces and groups. The project starts with a literature review which identifies research gaps and presents existing research knowledge on girl soldier reintegration (Paper I). I then examine whether the girls experience repair (reintegration), stigmatization or tolerance when returning ‘home’ (Paper II), particularly exploring how stigmatization and social exclusion are manifested in the everyday lives of former girl soldiers (Paper III & IV). Method: The research design is inspired by phenomenological thinking, and is consequently qualitative in nature, aiming at describing the world as experienced by the former girl soldiers. The fieldwork took place in South Kivu, one of DRC’s eastern provinces, in January and March 2010. The two main methodological tools were individual semistructured interviews and focus group discussions. Individual interviews were carried out with 12 former girl soldiers (and two caregivers), and 17 former girl soldiers participated in three participant-led focus groups. Each focus group met twice. To gain a better overall understanding of the Congolese culture and society, particularly how traditional position of girls and women might impact on the situation of former girl soldiers, I also conducted 13 individual interviews with informants in NGOs and public bodies. Results: Paper I: Although former girl soldiers recently have gained increased scholarly attention, their invisibility in academic literature persists. The studies that have addressed the different experiences by former boy and girl soldiers point unanimously to the inappropriateness of programs to reach and meet the needs of the girls. Thus, to secure the realization of their right to rehabilitation and social reintegration more gender-specific knowledge is required. The review identifies two sub-groups of former girl soldiers were research is particularly necessary; self-demobilized girl soldiers and forced mothers and their children. Paper I finds that these two groups face particular reintegration challenges; the self-demobilized girls as they are often excluded from reintegration programs (as well as from research), and forced mothers as returning with a child complicates the return ‘home’ and heightens stigmatization. Research also draws attention to the importance of traditional gendered expectations of women in civilian society, and that former girl soldiers may find it difficult to conform to traditional norms. Paper II: The analysis in Paper II paints a picture of a ‘homecoming’ characterized by frequent stigmatization, some repair and little tolerance. For most girls the ‘homecoming’ was a mixed experience; the return ‘home’ evokes several types of emotions and responses also within the same family. However, while experiencing repair in one or two relationships, they speak of negative and hostile responses from the majority of family and community members. Verbal insults and name-calling is mentioned more often as coming from the community, but the girls talk more about insults, discrimination and not being loved and cared for by their family, indicating that stigmatization by family members has a particular detrimental effect. Paper III: This paper provides a detailed description of the stigmatization experienced by former girl soldiers. Former girl soldiers are perceived as violent, as thieves, as promiscuous and as carriers of dangerous and contagious diseases. Sexualized namecalling, like Interahamwe-girl or military-girl and whore or prostitute, is commonplace. They are thought of as having bad behaviour, a military ‘spirit’ or mentality, and people fear that former girl soldiers may ‘contaminate’ other young people. Hence, attempts are made to limit their social interaction with peers. According to the girls, people are also fearful of them because they think the girls may bring soldiers to their neighbourhoods, thus seeing them as a threat to security. Stigmatization seems to be frequent even years after their return ‘home’, and perhaps surprisingly, women are identified as those most actively involved in the stigmatization of former girl soldiers in eastern Congo. Paper IV: The last paper investigates deeper into the aspect of social exclusion and finds that social and relational exclusion takes on different forms. Some girls experience rejection by parents and close family while others are “allowed” to stay but experience that they are excluded from social interactions within the family. Two situations of exclusion from social interaction with peers are also identified; peers may be personally reluctant or afraid to socialize with the girls or adults may prohibit former girl soldiers from socializing with children and youth in the neighbourhood. Exclusion from love relationship is also commonplace, often in the form of neighbours gossiping about the girl’s past experiences, causing the young men to stay away. Being excluded from social relationships and interactions thwart the girls’ ability to re-establish a sense of belonging to their families and communities, creating a superficial co-existence rather than a genuine inclusion. Discussion: Although some research finds little stigmatization of former child soldiers, most qualitative research which includes or solely looks at former girl soldiers coincide with the present study revealing frequent stigmatization by family and community. Similar to former girl soldiers in several other conflict and post-conflict contexts, former girl soldiers in eastern Congo are disappointed with their ‘homecoming’ and their attempt to reintegrate into family and community life. While family plays a key role and may greatly contribute to a successful social reintegration, family may also be particular detrimental if not responding in a caring manner towards girl soldiers returning ‘home’. War and armed conflict is commonly accompanied with increased levels of fear and distrust, a weakening of traditional collectivistic values and traditional social networks of mutual aid. This may clearly complicate the social reintegration of former girl soldiers. The girls in my study believe they are stigmatized because people see them as dangerous, thus as a threat to security, and because people perceive them as promiscuous, thus a threat to social norms. These two local perceptions have clear parallels in two global discourses; that of youthful African ex-combatants as particular brutal and dangerous, and that of female soldiers as whores or sexually deviant. The discussion draws attention to how these global discourses are reproduced by media, academics and humanitarians alike, and argues that this reproduction of negative and stigmatizing portrayals often happens at the expense of nuanced research in which stories of resistance are given their rightful place. Misleading and exaggerated perceptions of former girl soldiers may have negative implications for how the girls are perceived and treated by their families and communities, thus fuelling local stigmatization. It may also negatively impact on the design and implementation of reintegration programs aiming to assist the girls’ transition to civilian life

Reintegrering av tidligere barnesoldater: Fra teori til praksis

publishedVersio

– en evaluering av konsultasjonsteam

Denne rapporten presenterer en evaluering av tverrfaglige konsultasjonsteam knyttet til saker med mistanke om vold eller overgrep mot barn. Evalueringens formål var «å fremskaffe kunnskap som kan gi grunnlag for å vurdere hvorvidt konsultasjonsteam fører til at vold og overgrep mot barn og unge avdekkes i større grad, hjelper dem som utsettes for og utøver vold og overgrep, og om ordningen kan anbefales og videreutvikles».Bufdi

Hjelp til å avdekke vold og overgrep mot barn og unge

Denne rapporten presenterer en evaluering av tverrfaglige konsultasjonsteam knyttet til saker med mistanke om vold eller overgrep mot barn. Evalueringens formål var «å fremskaffe kunnskap som kan gi grunnlag for å vurdere hvorvidt konsultasjonsteam fører til at vold og overgrep mot barn og unge avdekkes i større grad, hjelper dem som utsettes for og utøver vold og overgrep, og om ordningen kan anbefales og videreutvikles»