Children in Armed Conflict

Abstract

UNICEF recently estimated that over 80% of the victims of today’s warfare are women and children. Civilian populations are deliberately targeted; “ethnic cleansing” and massacres are almost commonplace; populations are held hostage and under siege; even international economic sanctions are used as weapons in the struggles. The Northern Uganda Psychosocial Needs Assessment (NUPSNA) found that the core problem is conflict and insecurity, leading to abductions of young adults and children, displacement of populations both internally and across borders, social breakdown, lack of basic services such as health and education, and failure to meet basic needs. These in turn may lead to a number of psychosocial consequences including anger, violence, depression, anxiety, early and unprotected sexual activity, teenage pregnancy, alcoholism, promiscuity, prostitution, drug abuse, family breakdown, and so on.