World: Child-Inclusive and Gender-Responsive Reintegration Programmes

Wait 5 sec.

Country: World Source: UN Office of the SRSG for Children and Armed Conflict Please refer to the attached file. Release of new publication by the Liechtenstein Institute on Self-Determination at Princeton University and the Office of the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Children and Armed ConflictChild-Inclusive and Gender-Responsive Reintegration ProgrammesTuesday, July 8, 2025 - Reintegration programmes for children formerly associated with armed forces and armed groups are critical elements of building and sustaining peace in conflict and post-conflict situations, contributing to security, stability and social cohesion, and supporting transitions from military to civilian life. Reintegration programmes play a central role in mitigating the potential negative impacts of the return of these children to communities and families and provide services to redress harms, support resilience and establish meaningful livelihoods.Despite the transformative potential of such programmes, they have historically struggled to address the complex and long-term needs of children. They often lack a nuanced understanding of the experiences and vulnerabilities of children of different ages, sexes, gender identities, disability statuses, and backgrounds, which may limit their meaningful inclusion and participation or undermine their best interests.Existing guidance and guidelines rarely consider how to advance programmes that are both child-inclusive, in that they respond to the needs, vulnerabilities, and experiences of all children, and gender-responsive, in that they address the needs, vulnerabilities, and experiences of individuals of different sex and gender identities and the power dynamics between them.The paper released today, Child-Inclusive and Gender-Responsive Reintegration Programmes, was developed in partnership between the Liechtenstein Institute on Self-Determination at Princeton University and the Office of the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict. The paper provides research-based analysis as well as child-inclusive and gender-responsive considerations for practitioners working along the spectrum of reintegration programming, including how programmes can be designed to address these gaps.The paper is available on the following websites:Princeton UniversitySpecial Representative’s OfficeFor more information, please contact:Barbara Buckinx, Research Scholar, Liechtenstein Institute on Self-Determination, Princeton School of Public and International Affairs: bbuckinx@princeton.eduFabienne Vinet, Political Affairs Officer, Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict: vinet@un.org