Child Protection Services Needed During Armed Conflicts

Abstract

The aim of this module is to learn about the child protection services needed during armed conflicts. It first discusses the primary prevention services needed for children during armed conflicts, namely, making the education systems functional, promoting school enrolment and prevent school dropouts and facilitation of birth registration certificate and other identity documents. It then identifies the secondary prevention services needed for child protection during armed conflict such as mapping children at risk, prevention of child–family separation and prevention of children’s association with armed forces or armed groups. It finally focuses on the tertiary prevention services needed for child protection during armed conflict such as planning, preparation and process for release, disarmament, demobilisation and interim care of CAAFAGs. It also discusses the principles and skills of reintegration of CAAFAGs in their family and community by tracing of children’s families, preparing the family and the community, child–family reunification, alternative childcare arrangements, engaging children in the community and restoring of child development and support services and providing restorative justice to them.