Voices for Conflict-Affected Boys and Girls
Voices for Conflict-Affected Boys and Girls

Children are at the heart of the Children and Armed Conflict mandate. Elevating their voices is crucial to make their stories of hope and resilience known by the international community.
Former child soldier on tough road to recovery
John* was abducted in 2017 on his way back from work in a farm in South Sudan’s Western Equatoria State. He was among the thousands of children who became child soldiers and whose lives were drastically changed by the conflict in the country.

With World Vision‘s support, John* was able to overcome his trauma and learn tailoring at a vocational training center. He can now provide for his family.
“God protected me in the bush, and then, World Vision and partners intervened to help equip me with skills. Now I can provide for my family.”
─────John*, former child soldier
* Name has been changed
Nancy's story is an appeal for the world to join forces and end the recruitment and use of children
“The past years have shown us a series of grave violations against children in both decades-long and new conflicts. From Nigeria to Ethiopia to Yemen, thousands of children and youths are paying the prices for tribal, intercommunal violence, and insurgency conflicts.
Today, I am here for the nameless and the named ones, and calling everyone to commit to formal action plans and to take concrete measures to protect children, especially girls. World leaders must fill the wide gap in aid funding so that women and children can receive protection and meet their essential needs. “
───── Aisha Zannah, young activist from Maiduguri (Nigeria) and girl’s education advocate
Jean* raises his voice to highlight the importance of prioritizing reintegration
Jean* from the Central African Republic was recruited and used as a child soldier, and since returning home, he has been ostracized by friends and family. He raises the integral importance of reintegration for former child soldiers and the overall prevention of grave violations.
“I authorize my voice to be heard by all the leaders of this country and UNMISCA so that they hear it and work to prevent any recruitment.”
───── Jean*, former child soldier
*Name has been changed

“25 years after Graca Machel’s seminal report, I can say with confidence that the Children and Armed Conflict agenda has made enormous positive change in the lives of children.
Countless children have been released from armed groups – at least 170,000 since the year 2000, many with UNICEF’s support. And we know that proactive engagement with parties to conflict has directly prevented violations against children globally.”
Member States are valuable partners of the Children and Armed Conflict mandate, both at global and national levels. Groups of Friends of Children and Armed Conflict can also play a significant role and contribute to improving the protection of children affected by conflict.
Ivory Coast

In the search for solutions aimed at eradicating the use of children in the conflict [in Côte d’Ivoire], the armed groups had undertaken to end this practice by signing Action Plans with the United Nations. […]
These plans were based on several pillars: first, the facilitation of access for United Nations representatives to areas under the control of armed groups; then, the administrative verification of the age of girls and boys; and finally, the release of those who have been identified as children and their social reintegration support.
The open collaboration between the United Nations system, NGOs and armed groups has facilitated the effective implementation of these action plans.
“While working with MONUSCO in Goma, I advocated for the release of children from armed groups. Often, I was the first point of contact for boys and girls against whom grave violations had been committed by parties to the conflict. As we worked together to reconstruct their stories, they began to regain their self-confidence and the trust in their communities, as many of them believed that they had been betrayed by adults. I secured the release of children associated with armed groups from detention centres and liaised with justice actors to ensure that perpetrators of grave violations were held accountable.”
───── Adele Rutsobe, Child Protection Specialist, UNICEF Mali



“Children affected by armed conflicts can change their lifestyles and become conscious of their future and useful for their communities when all stakeholders including community members and leaders, parents, children themselves, host governments, parties to conflict and child protection partners decide to play their respective child protection roles.
I remember in 2010 when a 14-year-old Ugandan girl previously abducted and used by the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) exhibited some dance steps in tears of joy as she was informed by a partner on the way forward towards her family reunification and community integration.
This is just one example out of thousands that make me proud of the CAAC mandate.”
─────Alain Angu-andia Onziga, Child Protection Officer with MINUSCA

“As we celebrate the 25 years of the Children and Armed Conflict mandate, I think an important message to take away is the art of cooperation and collaboration. We also need to be mindful of working with the local population, and I’ve been privileged in my 7-month here so far to see so many projects that help develop the future of the Congo and the adults of tomorrow.”
────Lt. Col. Sophie Gregory, Force Gender Advisor and Child Protection Officer with MONUSCO

“The Children and Armed Conflict mandate requires effort, commitment and dedication from all of us.
To all partners who have added their voices to support conflict-affected children: Thank you.
To all of you tirelessly working to improve the protection of children from the harms of conflict: Thank you.
Your work makes a difference in the life of millions of children.
Through collaboration, engagement, and persistence, we will continue to work to fulfill the promise made to conflict-affected children 25 years ago.”
──Virginia Gamba, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict