* Any views expressed in this opinion piece are those of the author and not of Thomson Reuters Foundation.
Living with conflict
In periods of insecurity, normally protective systems such as the family, community and religious institutions and rule of law can breakdown or mutate. With this erosion, the problems of social injustice, inequality, and marginalisation can become even more pronounced, yet there are fewer functioning mechanisms to help address them.
The impact of this societal breakdown can be suspension of essentials such as education, fragmented families, lost societal knowledge, and because of all this, a further entrenchment of poverty.
Courts stop working, social workers stop getting paid and families begin making survivalist priorities and breaking up. Mental health problems, psychosocial issues are highly connected to conflict and for those suffering, the breakdown of these support mechanisms and the stress of conflict on those around them can further endanger them and others. Already existing societal perspectives such as on the restrictions of women can very negatively impact women and their dependents ad lead to inequality in resource distribution.
Conflict-affected children
Children living within a conflict-affected place over a prolonged period of time may suffer from long term problems as well as displaying immediately visible symptoms. Living in a state of continual fear, dealing with bereavement, witnessing violent acts are just some of the events and elements which can induce adverse and worrying psychological reactions. With few “conflict-free” years, psychological stress is further exacerbated. The irony is that children on the whole, show extraordinary resilience to the negative elements of their environment. This resilience is increased when their essential needs are met, and when further burdens such as income generation are taken off their shoulders.
Recruitment
Conflict can indirectly and directly affect children but it also involves them. Children can become conflict actors; involved with and fighting for armed groups. There are an estimated 250,000 child soldiers in the world today, 40% of them girls. Whilst in many cases recruitment may be forced, there are many degrees of coercion and children who have been recruited or who have signed up voluntarily are often found to have been marginalised, independent from their family and were already involved in more hazardous enterprises. We need to understand that becoming “wife” or soldier can appeal to children as a legitimate livelihood choice, and increasing the opportunities for young people is one means of reducing voluntary recruitment.
However, the psychological effects of being exposed to armed conflict at a young age can be grave for future prospects. Assisting with demobilisation and reintegration is crucial if we are to stop young people keeping from taking arms again, entering into demeaning/hazardous employment, or failing to make lasting relationships with people
