Human Rights Education Associates

Children in War and Armed Conflicts

4 September-15 October 2019 (E04419) | CANCELED
Instructor: Esther Obdam

Armed conflicts around the world continue to expose many millions of children to inexcusable forms of violence, including abduction, rape, mutilation, forced displacement and sexual exploitation. In some contexts, children often taken on active roles in conflict, forced to participate either to carry weapons as combatants or to assume auxiliary roles. The breakdown of social protection that occurs during every armed conflict leaves all children vulnerable. Many children are threatened with separation from their families, orphaning, disability and serious, long-term psychosocial consequences; girls are especially at risk of unwanted pregnancy.

This certificate course examines the effect of armed conflict on children in the 21st century. It looks at the various ways in which children are involved in conflicts and the substantial impact that they can have on children’s mental and physical well-being. The course highlights concrete actions that can be taken to contribute to the full implementation of children’s rights in conflict and post-conflict contexts, including through the application of humanitarian law; and the increasing ways in which perpetrators can be held to account.