Papers presented at the International Conference on Children and Youth affected by Armed Conflict

395 Pages·2013·3.4 MB·English

Papers presented at the
International Conference on
Children and Youth affected by
Armed Conflict: Where to go from
here?

th th
Kampala, 25 –27 September 2013
Speke Resort, Munyonyo
TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................ 3

Akello, Dorcus – Rehabilitation and reintegration in view of a war affected child: Reality on the
ground .......................................................................................................................................... 4–12
Anjarwati, Erna – Peace education through storytelling: Social reconciliation and intercultural
dialogue among children in southern Thailand ........................................................................... 13–28
Apio, Eunice Otuko – Exploring experiences of Children Born of War (CBOW) in northern Uganda:
Guidelines for integration .......................................................................................................... 29–42
Arnow, Jan – Voiceless victims: War trauma through the lens of children's art ........................... 43–53
Babatunde, Abosede Omowumi – Harnessing traditional practices to the reintegration of child
soldiers in Africa: Libera and Burundi examples .......................................................................... 53–69
Both, Jonna – Is it because we were children? The aftermath of child soldiering in Yumbe District,
Uganda ....................................................................................................................................... 70–83
Buvens, Vanessa & Lagen, David – Post conflict trauma couunseling to rebuilding livelihoods: A
community NGO perspective from Agago district, Uganda ....................................................... 84–96
Chacha, Babere Karata – Life after the camps: The Truth Commission, children and youth
rehabilitation in Kenya .............................................................................................................. 97–104
Cordido, Irina Mago – Challenges and opportunities of political reintegration of former child
soldiers in Columbia ................................................................................................................ 105–122
Eldeen, Hagir Gamal Osman – Sudan experience on the release, reunification and reintegration of
CAAFGs .................................................................................................................................. 123–141
Kevers, Ruth & De Haene, Lucia – Understanding the remembrance of collective violence: From
symptomatic suffering to socio-cuultural process ................................................................... 142–157
Kiamba, Anita – Crossing the bridge: Linking peace to rehabilitation and reintegration processses
and international assistance .................................................................................................... 158–175
Maharjan, Sanu Lal – Youth in fragile nations: Peacebuilders or spoilers? ............................. 178–190
McGill, Michael Lee – Exploring child participation in peacebuilding in majority world nations
impacted by armed intrastate conflict .................................................................................... 191–208
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Namuggala, Victoria – Youth return in post conflict northern Uganda: Sustainable or susceptible?
............................................................................................................................................... 209–221
Ojok, David Stephen – Psychological influence of stigma, discrimination and social exclusion
among children deformed by war, northern Uganda .............................................................. 222–238
Ombati, Mokua – Graffiti: A powerful innovative weapon broadening the horizons of social
transformation in Kenya ......................................................................................................... 239–253
Ongwech, Onen David – Enabling support groups among refugee children .......................... 254–268
Plowright, Will – Dancing with the devil, or necessary dialogue? Reflection on humanitarian
engagement with armed groups that use child soldiers .......................................................... 269–283
Roshani, Niousha – Beyond child soldiering: Understanding children and violence in Colombia
through creative research methods ........................................................................................ 284–303
Tshimba, David-Ngendo – Overcoming child soldiering in post-cold war in Africa: A humanitarian
response ................................................................................................................................. 304–315
Wakia, Joanna – Applying lessons learnt from the reintegration of street children affected by armed
conflict .................................................................................................................................... 316–332
Walakira, Eddy; Kamya, Innocent R.; Francis, K.; Bukenya, B. & Nyanzi, Ddumba I. – Street
children in post war areas in Uganda: Experience with violence and access to protective
services...................................................................................................................................333–354
Walakira, Eddy; Nyanzi, Ismail & Bukenya, Badru – Mapping the response of NGOs in the
provision of child sensitive social protection in conflict and post conflict settings in Uganda ... 355–377
Wedge, Joanna – Stepping forward: Sharing learning about children's reintegration between
humanitarian and development actors ................................................................................... 378–394

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INTRODUCTION

The papers in this publication have been presented at the International Conference “Children and
Youth Affected by Armed Conflict: Where to go from here?”, taking place in Kampala – Uganda,
from 25th till 27th of September 2013.

These papers only express the views of the author(s), and do not reflect the views of the organizing
committee and organizing organisations.

Please make sure to properly cite the original work when using, distributing and reproducing these
papers.

Enjoy reading!

With best wishes,

The Organising Committee,
Centre for Children in Vulnerable Situations
War Child Holland

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Rehabilitation and Reintegration in View of a War
Affected Child: Reality on the Ground

Akello Dorcus

Project Officer War Child Holland Uganda, Lira Field Office.
Email: [email protected]

ABSTRACT
For over twenty years, northern Uganda experienced an unprecedented civil strive, during which the
Lord’s Resistance Army abducted an estimated twenty thousand children into their ranks. Many
approaches to ensure children affected by this conflict are reintegrated formed part of the humanitarian
and development aid assistance by numerous agencies working in this region. Six to seven years after
the conflict, not so many agencies are still engaged in providing rehabilitation, reintegration and
psychosocial support to children affected by armed conflict or war while many are investing in
development projects. The effects of war on these children in terms of their psychological effects
remains a key determinate of what would otherwise be the outcome of the projects that they are
engaged in. This is an area that should not be left out as priorities move towards reconstruction and
development. A child led research conducted by the War Child Consortium in Uganda, indicated that
over 78% of children interviewed in eight districts of northern Uganda said they did not feel safe in their
schools, community and at home. While so many organizations are engaged in ensuring children are
protected and are safe, what then would be the cause for such alarming interpretations by children
themselves? This remains a key question that has to be answered. Are children being meaningfully
involved to diverse means of ensuring their protection and safety? Where the effects of the war duly
dealt with to eliminate any form of post traumatic stress disorders? What is not being done right? What
place does advocacy have in such situations? This remains a key question to both policy makers and
practitioners.
Keywords: DEALS, Child Mothers, Stigmatisation, Discrimination, Exclusion

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Apart from the efforts of myself, the success of this paper work depended largely on the encouragement and
guidelines of many others. I take this opportunity to express my gratitude to the people who have been
instrumental in the successful completion of this paper work. I acknowledge and appreciate the contribution
to Mr. Otim Geoffrey, Lecturer Gulu University Department of Agriculture. I can't say thank you enough for
your tremendous guidance. Furthermore I would also like to acknowledge with much appreciation the crucial
role of the staff of War Child Holland, who gave me the permission to use all required equipment and the
necessary materials to complete the task. Special thanks go to Suur Ernst PDM and the entire Management
Team of War Child Holland Uganda who entrusted me to present on behalf of the organisation during the
conference and for supporting me financially. Last but not least, many thanks go to my supervisors Ayot
Caroline Perry, project coordinator War Child Holland, Lango Field Office who has invested her full effort in
guiding me in achieving this goal. I have appreciated the guidance given by other supervisors as well.
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BACKGROUND
The article talks about Rehabilitation and Reintegration in View of a War Affected Child: Reality
on the Ground.
In the past 20 years, war between the Uganda Peoples’ Defences Forces (UPDF) and the Lords
Resistant Army (LRA), a militia consisting mainly of child soldiers were abducting children and youth
during night time raids in Acholi and Lango regions. This brutal civil war that was waged in Northern
Uganda by the Lord’s resistance Army claimed many lives and caused social imbalance in many of
its victims (Sima, A., et al., 2012).
The conflict made many people from various villages to resettle in camps for the purpose of safety.
In the camps the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) were cramped in huts built barely a meter away
from each other leading to congestion, appalling health and sanitation conditions. See pictures
below:

Picture 1 Picture 2

Former IDP in Abia Camp Alebtong District (April 2004) Former IDP in Aloi Alebtong District (2001)

How the Northern Uganda War resulted into stigmatisation, discrimination and exclusion
When in the bush, the abducted girls were often forced into sexual servitude, becoming the ‘wives’
of senior LRA commanders. “Girl children werre offered as ‘rewards’ to senior officers,” and “The
result is that a significant number of returnees were child mothers.” 30% are estimated to have had
children as a result of their ordeal (Allen, T., 2005).

Because of the experience that the children and youth in war torn northern Uganda faced, they were
stigmatiztised, discriminated and excluded when they escape and get back to their respective
homes. This was because the abducted children did not sit back to face hardships and for that
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matter, there are some children who managed to get back to their ancestral homes. Even when
abductees eventually return home, their problems are not completely over.
After the formally abducted girl child have returned home, they find themselves dejected,
stigmatized and rejected – often by their immediate family that is the mother, father, sisters and
brothers; and the entire community. Their chances of re-marrying are small and many abandon their
babies. For a long time, these young girls lived with the fear that their so-called ‘husband’ would
return to claim them (Q&A on Joseph Kony, 2012).

The rejection by family and society has great economic and social impacts on the lives of these
marginalised girls. Of great concern are young mothers who bore children in the process of LRA
fighting; they face severe discrimination and often their children are nicknamed ‘the child of the
enemy’, ‘killers´ and all sorts of names. This is worst when the child who is born of the young
mother is a male, the family members look at this male child as a potential threat to the family
assets in future such as family land. This has made the young mothers to indirectly indiscriminate
against their own children, creating a chain of discrimination across generations (Akello,G.,
Richters,A. And Reis, R,.).

Young girls abducted by the LRA rebels and having been abused sexually, some contracted HIV and
other sexually transmitted diseases. It’s reported that 9 out of 10 girls who leave the LRA are
diagnosed with sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) or HIV. The widespread fear of HIV/AIDS also
contributes to the stigmatisation of formerly abducted girls and their children. Girls in particular face
severe consequences as a result of stigma and social exclusion (Kalla,K. & Dixon, P., 2010).

Young girls who have come back from captivity have missed out of formal education, they have no
skills to get or create jobs, making it difficult for them to support themselves and their children
(Akello, Richters & Reis).
During the conflict, children and young people suffered heavily from violence, insecurity, and
displacement. They lost their parents, had to leave their homes, lived in fear for years, and were
unable to access education (Ibid).
Young mothers who returned are looked at by their parents, the community and peers as social out
casts and in most cases they are not allowed to interact with the young girls in the community
because of the fear that these young girls would negatively impact on the life of others.

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Traditional approach in addressing stigmatization, discrimination and exclusion
Mato oput
The Mato Oput Proceeds in three phases, the cleansing ceremony (breaking the egg) then a brief
purification rite of spiting in a sheep’s mouth and then the actual reconciliation rite of Mato Oput.
(Rev. Fr Joseph, 2005)

Unless a traditional ritual is performed ‘mato oput’ and ‘nyono tong Gweno’ culturally, the
formerly abducted are looked at as not clean thus for complete acceptance, there were communal
cultural performances that would be performed and that in the shortest period of time would help in
the healing process thus complete acceptance of the formerly abducted (Rev. Fr Joseph, 2005).

These children are now adolescents and young adults. Fortunately, almost all of them have moved
back to their villages, looking for a way to support themselves and their families. However, the
effects of the conflict are far reaching, leaving almost an entire generation of young people under-
educated and under-skilled and many communities without the ability to protect their children. In
addition, while the rehabilitation of schools and facilities has started, the quality of education is
often poor thus resulting in children and young dropping out or not registering at all (Rev. Fr Joseph,
2005).

In a bid to deal with the processes of stigmatization, discrimination and exclusion; War Child Holland
has enabled children and young people to claim their right to quality education, live in a safe and
conducive environment through non-formal education, vocational education and formal primary
education and we invest through innovative approaches to improve child learning.
Note that, the conflict which lasted for over 20 years would be interpreted as a loss to an entire
generation, to War child Holland. This is currently stereotyped in the way this current generation
share life scenarios which is full of violence and low self-esteem. This prompted an intervention by
War Child Holland to address stigmatisation, discrimination and exclusion of children affected by
war.
A child led research conducted by the War Child Consortium in Uganda, indicated that over 78% of
Children interviewed in eight districts of Northern Uganda said they did not feel safe in their schools,
community and at home. This remains a key question that has to be answered. Are children being
meaningfully involved to diverse means of ensuring their protection and safety? Where the effects
of the war duly dealt with to eliminate any form of post-traumatic stress disorders? What is not
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being done right? What place does advocacy have in such situations? This remains a key question to
both Policy makers and practitioners.
“To War Child Holland, this conflict that had been for over eighteen years would mean that the
entire generation will be lost, and with children who only know the effects of violence.” “Unless
more is done, a second generation will also be lost.”
Rehabilitation and Reintegration in View of a War Affected Child: Reality on the Ground an
approach by War Child Holland approach
War Child Holland is a Non-Government Organisation that entered into Northern Uganda in 2004 at
a period when the insurgency was at its peak. In a bid to resolve the problem of stigmatization,
discrimination and exclusion of children that are faced with war, War Child Holland is continuing to
empower children and young people to shape their own future. WCH believe that children and
young people can use their inner strength to create new opportunities, ideas, and initiatives. They
are the ones who can realise their rights and change the future. Not only for themselves, but also for
their peers, caregivers and communities

Strategic approach used by War Child in addressing stigmatization, discrimination and Exclusion
of War Affected children in Northern Uganda
In her approach to deal with stigmatization, Discriminations and Exclusion, War Child uses three
integrated programming themes: and these are;
1. Psychosocial support
2. Education and
3. Child protection

Psychosocial Support
In war, a child's life changes abruptly. Children and young people witness or even actively participate
in violence, most of the time against their will. During armed conflict many children and young
people live in IDP (Internally Displaced Person) or refugee camps, experience the loss of relatives,
and lack structure and daily activities. As a result they can become anxious, depressed and
withdrawn, or rebellious and aggressive. In order to overcome these effects, War Child provides
these children and youth with psychosocial support. And this is through the psychosocial approach
known as The DEALS which is a creative life skills course for children 11 -15 years old and youth
16-22 years. It improves the skills of children and youth to better deal with the challenges of
everyday life in conflict-affected areas.
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The DEALS consist of comprehensive theme-based psychosocial interventions designed to build the
resilience of children and young people. Parents and caregivers can also simultaneously follow their
own course through a similar intervention. The DEALS combine creative activities and games with
group discussions and home assignments. In the long run, they learn how to express their emotions,
communicate and confront difficult situations, and build relationships with peers, family members
and other adults. PARENTS AND TEACHERS DEAL help parents, caregivers and teachers build skills
to provide children and young people with appropriate and effective care and psychosocial support.

Example of the DEAL lay out of the manual for Young Mothers that helps to eliminate
Stigmatization, Discrimination and Exclusion of children.
DEAL Target group Age group Issues
She DEAL Children 12- 20 1. Identity and Assessment:
2. Parenting

3. Child development
4. Relations with adults
5. Relations
6. Future

Other coping strategies to stigmatization, discrimination and exclusion
Resilience and strength
In War Child’s psychosocial support projects, children and young people build on their resilience and
strength. With the right support most children will be able to cope with the adversities they
experience.
Through recreational activities and creative life skills
courses, children and young people regain their self-
confidence and their trust in others. They learn to
recognise and deal with their emotions, and cope with
the challenges of living in a conflict-affected area. War
Child supports parents and caregivers fulfil their
obligations to provide care and psychosocial support to
their children.
We build the skills of professionals, civil society organisations and government authorities, and work
together with them to establish effective support structures and services. We promote legislation
and policies concerning children’s rights to healthy psychosocial development.

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