Youth

This comprehensive but succinct report explores issues related to violence and conflict in complex settings , highlighting clearly the blurred lines across which many development and stabilisation programmes have to operate. It contains an in depth analysis of DDR objectives and considers why 'traditional' DDR responses are inadequate / insufficient to deal with many of the situations in which they are often called for.

This report questions mainstream approaches to the reintegration of youthful ex-combatants. Most ex-combatants are currently unemployed
or underemployed as the programmes initiated first and foremost prepared them for jobs
that did not exist. The authors suggest that reintegration can better be achieved through peaceful remobilization that allows the ex-combatants to make use of the skills, experiences and networks gained through the war

Using a case study on Sierra Leone, this paper focuses on the potential role of sports in DDR to determine how ex-youth combatants, camp administrators and caregivers perceive the role and significance of sporting activities in interim care centers (ICCs) or DDR camps. It argues that sporting experiences in DDR processes are fruitful microcosms for understanding nuanced forms of violence and healing among youth combatants during their reintegration process.

This report explores the experiences of former LRA ex-combatants and their communities as they attempt to reintegrate in DRC and South Sudan. It highlights the important role of family support, the need for cultural specificity in the design of interventions, and work with local leaders. The challenges posed by legacy of conflict on communal tensions and mental health are highlighted.

Documentation on the particular challenges faced by female ex-combatants on the continent. Chapter Five highlights key issues and recommendations . Annex A presents a series of individual case examples drawn from Eritrea.