Disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration (DDR) of child soldiers
"Child soldiers" participate in many armed conflicts and wars worldwide. They make up 10 to 15 per cent of the troop strength of armed forces and groups that participate in armed fighting. Even though the goal of most disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration (DDR) programmes for child soldiers is their reintegration into civilian life, the DDR process for children and youth is fundamentally different to that for adults. The demobilisation of children often starts much earlier; even before armed conflict or wars have ended and peace agreements have been signed, or even before a DDR programme for adults is initiated. In parallel to the demobilisation of child soldiers and according to the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, DDR programmes strive to prevent the recruitment of children into armed conflicts. To achieve this, combatants, former combatants, commanders and communities need to be sensitised, families and security sector reform efforts need to be supported and the use of child soldiers documented.
DDR exercises for children take very long, are complex and, just like regular DDR processes for adults, depend on the respective country-context. In general, however, they follow a similar pattern.
Demobilisation of child soldiers
The first step in a DDR process for children is the disarmament and demobilisation during which the children are separated from the armed force they are associated with Often, negotiations with the armed groups and armed forces are necessary; sometimes children manage to flee or are freed by government troops. Generally, members of staff of child protection agencies (UNICEF) or their partner organisations welcome the children and accompany them to special admission camps where they are disarmed (when they have a weapon) and where they officially leave the army or armed groups. It is important that children (particularly girls) who have not been actively involved in the fighting but who have ‘only’ been engaged in logistical, domestic or other such activities also profit from DDR programmes. These children also belong to the category of child soldiers and have a right to reintegration assistance.
The children are identified in the admission camps. They usually receive an ID or a registration card that confirms that they no longer are part of the military or any other armed group. They are dressed in new clothes and receive medical care. Some of the illnesses and medical problems child soldiers frequently suffer from are malnutrition, infected wounds, sexually transmitted diseases and mental illnesses. Drug addiction is also a common feature in child soldiers.
Most children spend no more than 48 hours in these camps. It is important that the children are immediately taken away from the military structures so that existing structures of authority and power are broken up. When children lose their connection to their former commanders, it is their first step back into civilian life.
According to international standards, the children must be reunited with their family as quickly as possible and have to return to their home villages. Before this can happen, the children will often stay in interim care centres or reception centres while the DDR officials try to find their families. This often takes a lot of time, is cost intensive and becomes extremely difficult when armed conflict or wars are still going on. As soon as the child’s family is found, the child is prepared for his/ her return. Relatives are informed of the child's past and condition. Only then does the reintegration process begin.
Return into civilian life
While reintegration activities for adults focus on leading ex-combatants back to civilian and social life and to show them income and job opportunities, the reintegration of children has a different focus: their reintegration into existing family structures and psychological support. Due to their experiences with violence and their military past, children often find it difficult to adjust to the norms and rules of the family. They often feel estranged, guilty or blame the family for not having protected them enough in the past. Very young children in particular (it has been reported that children as young as seven or eight years old have been recruited into armed groups) who have supported armed groups for a long time identify with the role they played in armed fighting. Often they have been led by the armed groups and armed forces to believe that life in the military is the best for them. Back in their communities, these children are often stigmatised as child soldiers. Sometimes, even family members have strong reservations about the return of the children, for instance when they were forced to use violence against their own family or community. Some cultures therefore perform traditional reconciliation rituals with the children before they are finally reintegrated into their community.
When children cannot be received by their relatives, be it because their family cannot be found, their relatives have died or they simply refuse to have them, DDR programmes provide children with care. When the children have been integrated into a new community, social workers continue to visit them to make sure that they are well looked after. They will also try to solve problems that occur as a result of a child's high potential for aggression and violence, disputes between family members, post-traumatic stress disorders or psychological symptoms. Medical and psychological care will also continue.
Another major task of a DDR programme is to provide schooling for the children and to offer them vocational training or customised training courses. The socio-economic reintegration of children has often been underestimated; but it is just as necessary for children as it is for adults.
