Partner Organisation: Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers
Project: Care Packages for young girls in the Democratic Republic of Congo
The pain and trauma suffered by all those unfortunate enough to be involved in the horrors of war are undoubtedly a terrible thing wherever and whenever they occur. However where the victims are innocent children kidnapped from their homes and forced into lives of unspeakable brutality the scale of the tragedy reaches even more unimaginable proportions.
Having seen and read lots about the issue of ‘child soldiers', James Etchells (one of our members currently based in Holland) and myself decided that if we could find an appropriate partner and a suitable project it would be a great to try and get OPS involved in efforts to combat this most heinous of problems.
Having looked at various organisations we have chosen to nominate the Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers because we feel that, for a variety of reasons both to do with the specific project on offer and the nature of the organisation itself, they represent an excellent prospect for a successful and rewarding partnership for '07 and maybe beyond.
The Coalition: Set
up in May 1998, the Coalition was established here in London
as a collaboration between leading non-governmental organizations
to end the military recruitment and participation in armed conflict
of all children below 18 years of age. Active observers in the
field for the Coalition include the International Labour Organization,
the International Committee of the Red Cross and UNICEF. The
Coalition has played a major role in spotlighting the issue of
child soldiers internationally and publishes reports documenting
the use of child soldiers in 196 countries.
The Partnership: The credentials of the Coalition in terms of legitimacy speak for themselves. In addition to this, it was extremely heartening to receive a detailed and enthusiastic response to our partnership proposal the very next day after we had been in touch. Mindful of the kind of direct involvement we are trying to build here at OPS and our desire to help smaller programmes, our contact at the Coalition, Ms Carissa Lopez, has suggested an excellent initiative in the Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire) that the Coalition hopes to begin supporting in the near future. Whilst the intensely troubled and often violent nature of the conflict in Congo makes the prospect of a project visit unrealistic we believe that this is an excellent opportunity for us to have our funds reach what is for the most part a very inaccessible yet immensely deserving cause. Another bonus being that we can maintain our international outlook without the hassle and costs associated with international bank transfers.
The Project: In addition to participating in combat, child soldiers routinely are forced to perform a wide range of tasks, including: laying mines and explosives; being couriers or guards; portering, cooking and domestic labour. Child soldiers may also be isubjected to sexual slavery with girls clearly being particularly at risk. These children are almost always deprived of proper food, education, health care and human affection.
In post-conflict situations, the reintegration of former child soldiers is a long-term process that requires sustained funding for sensitively designed programs. Returning children need support with education, training and the means of making a living while communities in their turn require support to cope with returning children.
One major problem is that reintegration programs are traditionally military focused whereas the experience of girls is more often blurred in the multiple roles they perform as “wife” and child soldier. For the great number of Girls who have suffered sexual abuse, their pain is further compounded by the fact that, as a result, they are often left ostracized and isolated from their home communities. Fearful of this social stigma they often do not see leaving the armed group as a choice. A comprehensive 2004 report conducted Save the Children emphasized the need for discrete, community-based approaches sensitive to the complex nature of girl's experiences that can adequately address these difficulties.
Through the Coalition and their local contacts OPS would be supporting four community-based reintegration centres for girls in the Eastern region of the Congo. These provide a safe place for the girls to receive rehabilitation services and help in planning and arranging reintegration back into their communities. Following a recent meeting with local partners in the area the Coalition wishes to respond to the pressing need for basic equipment the centres including: books, school supplies such as notebooks and pens, toiletries, undergarments and feminine hygiene products.Marcus Fairhurst , Jan 2007