Additional Resources
Additional Resources for Home From the War: Reintegrating Ex-Combatants
Ex-Combatants and Reintegration
A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier, by Ishmael Beah
In A Long Way Gone, Beah, now twenty-six years old, tells a riveting story. At the age of twelve, he fled attacking rebels and wandered a land rendered unrecognizable by violence. By thirteen, he’d been picked up by the government army, and Beah, at heart a gentle boy, found that he was capable of truly terrible acts. Eventually released by the army and sent to a UNICEF rehabilitation center, he struggled to regain his humanity and to reenter the world of civilians, who viewed him with fear and suspicion. This is, at last, a story of redemption and hope.
Red Shoes: Experiences of Girl-combatants in Liberia, Report Coordinated by Irma Specht, Crisis Response and Reconstruction Program, International Labour Organization
The present study on the experiences of female ex-combatants in Liberia was coordinated by
Irma Specht, a former ILO Official and experienced consultant on matters related to DDR,
through her consultancy firm Transparency International. The study aims to gain insights in
the motives of Liberian girls for taking up arms and their reintegration needs. It also aims to highlight the key issues for improving gender sensitive prevention and reintegration policies.
Young Soldiers: Why They Choose to Fight, By Rachel Brett, Irma Specht, International Labour Office, Published by International Labour Organization, 2004. ISBN 922113718X, 9789221137184
This publication contains the personal views and experiences of child soldiers, highlighting a number of factors contributing to their participation, including the socio-economic and political environment, and their vulnerable personal circumstances, as well as how diverse risk factors interact. These personal stories also draw attention to the gender dimensions of the problem, and to concept of child soldiers 'volunteering' in armed conflict situations. The book then goes on to explore key factors in the development of a comprehensive strategy to tackle the problem, including addressing issues of breakdown of law and order, availability of weapons, extreme forms of social exclusion including poverty and inequality, lack of educational opportunities, widespread child abuse and child labor. The publication includes profiles of conflict situations in Afghanistan, Colombia, the Congo, Northern Ireland, Sierra Leone, South Africa and Sri Lanka.
"Justice in Conflict? The ICC and Peace Processes", by Nick Grono and Adam O'Brien
In the Royal African Society's 'Courting Conflict? Justice, Peace and the ICC in Africa', Nicholas Waddell and Phil Clark (eds.), March 2008
The International Criminal Court (ICC) is now investigating or prosecuting individuals involved in three of the most devastating conflicts in Africa – Darfur, northern Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). In each case, the ICC has been forced to confront the challenges inherent in pursuing peace and justice simultaneously. What happens – and what should happen – when efforts to prosecute perpetrators of mass atrocities coincide with a peace process? What is the best approach when the price of a peace deal may be a degree of impunity for those most responsible for such abuses?
From Exile to Peril at Home:Returned Refugees and Iraq’s Displacement Crisis, September 22, 2008 Special FocusReport from Human Rights Watch
In the last months of 2007, tens of thousands of Iraqi refugees left Syria to return to their country. Whether they returned in Iraqi government-sponsored bus convoys or on individual journeys, some in Baghdad and Washington touted their move as a sign of success in bringing order to Baghdad and a vote of confidence by the returnees in Iraq’s safety and stability. Elsewhere, governments like Jordan and Sweden that had provided sanctuary to Iraqi refugees may have seen in the returns a signal that the time had come to begin compelling Iraqis to return, rather than providing them with asylum and assistance.
In the last months of 2007, tens of thousands of Iraqi refugees left Syria to return to their country. Whether they returned in Iraqi government-sponsored bus convoys or on individual journeys, some in Baghdad and Washington touted their move as a sign of success in bringing order to Baghdad and a vote of confidence by the returnees in Iraq’s safety and stability. Elsewhere, governments like Jordan and Sweden that had provided sanctuary to Iraqi refugees may have seen in the returns a signal that the time had come to begin compelling Iraqis to return, rather than providing them with asylum and assistance.
Jobs after war - A critical challenge in the peace and reconstruction puzzle. Edited by Eugenia Date-Bah. InFocus Programme on Crisis Response and Reconstruction, International Labour Office, Geneva, 2003. 452 pp. ISBN 92-2-113810-0.
The book demonstrates the complexity of tackling the immense post-conflict job challenge and the essential elements of an effective response to it. Local economic development, skills training, micro finance, labour based infrastructure programmes, macro economic policies, the provision of social protection and the contributions of ILO constituents, other civil society groups and international bodies all play a role in such a response. Each chapter highlights a particular piece of the puzzle and contributes to outline the scope and nature of the challenges as well as modalities for dealing with them.
By Irma Specht, Larry Attree and Yvonne Kemper
Background Paper Prepared for the Project European Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons and Explosive Remnants of War, funded bythe European Unionand the United Kingdom
This paper examines the European Union (EU)’s approach to children and armed conflict, notethe challenges faced by it, and suggest ways to improve both policy and action. It will also look at how far children’s issues are related to disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR)
programming and small arms and light weapons (SALW)/explosive remnants of war (ERW) issues, and make practical suggestions on how children’s concerns can and should be integrated more effectively into the EU’s DDR, SALW and ERW programming.
The United Nations has been engaged in the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) of former combatants in post-conflict situations for over fifteen years. Together with bilateral and non-governmental partners, the United Nations' departments, programs, funds, and agencies are operational in dozens of countries across the globe.
Key Findings from the Nation Wide Survey of Ex-combatants in Liberia: Reintegration and Reconciliation, February-March 2006, by James Pugel
In February-March of 2006 the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in partnership with the Liberian chapter of African Network for the Prevention and Protection against Child Abuse and Neglect (ANPPCAN) conducted a randomized nationwide survey of the population of ex-combatants. The study aimed to determine the status of ongoing international intervention on reintegration and reconciliation efforts at the individual or micro level and to obtain a mid-point assessment of the impact of the Disarmament, Demobilization, Rehabilitation, and Reintegration (DDRR) program.
Would You Fight Again?: Understanding Liberian Ex-Combatant Reintegration
September 2008, Special Report by Richard Hill, Gwendolyn Taylor, and Jonathan Temin of the US Institute of Peace
In countries emerging from conflict, the reintegration of ex-combatants into society is a challenging task—for the nation, aid organizations, and, most of all, the former fighters themselves.
September 2008, Special Report by Richard Hill, Gwendolyn Taylor, and Jonathan Temin of the US Institute of Peace
In countries emerging from conflict, the reintegration of ex-combatants into society is a challenging task—for the nation, aid organizations, and, most of all, the former fighters themselves.
Making reintegration work for youth in northern Uganda, Findings from two phases of the Survey of War Affected Youth, By Jeannie Annan, Christopher Blattman, Khristopher Carlson and Dyan Mazurana
The findings and conclusions put forward in this briefing note do not support an expansion of programs targeted specifically towards formerly abducted youth. Rather, the evidence supports the opposing view—targeting of formerly abducted youth is likely to be unsuccessful in reducing vulnerability, in addressing needs and in improving long-term reintegration. The principal reason is that abduction status is a crude and unreliable predictor of need; large numbers non-abducted youth exhibit serious educational, economic, social and health challenges, while significant numbers of abductees perform quite well relative to their peers.
Trauma and Transitional Justice in Divided Societies, April 2005, Special Report No. 135 by Judy BarsalouDirector of the Grant Program, US Institute of Peace,
In March 2004, the United States Institute of Peace (USIP), with assistance from the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), hosted a three-day conference at Airlie House in Warrenton, Virginia, entitled "Trauma and Transitional Justice in Divided Societies." Participants included approximately forty-five researchers and practitioners from around the world, about half of them current or former USIP grantees. This report summarizes preliminary findings on a range of issues that conference participants agreed deserve further examination.
Healing
The Urge to Remember: The Role of Memorials in Social Reconstruction and Transitional Justice, January 2007, by Judy Barsalou and Victoria Baxter of the US Institute of Peace
This report focuses on the often-ignored challenges faced by those seeking, through memorialization, to help repair societies that are emerging from violent conflict. The summary matrix at the end of this report provides recommendations to international actors interested in assisting in that process.
August 2006, by Camille Pampell Conaway of the US Institute of Peace
Structure of the Report: Part I addresses lessons and recommendations for the critical task of institutionalizing the role of women in these operations across the U.S. government. Part II addresses lessons and recommendations for priority tasks for the U.S. government to follow to enhance the role of women in its reconstruction and stabilization operations. Part III consists of a full matrix of action steps--generated by those within agencies across the U.S. government jointly with civil society representatives during the course of working group sessions. A companion report, Charting Progress: The Role of Women in Reconstruction and Stabilization Operations, forms the basis from which these recommendations were drawn, detailing examples of women’s contributions to the four pillars of postwar reconstruction as well as best practices of the international community, including the U.S. government, to support their efforts.
Indigenous Healing of War Affected Children in Africa, byEdward C. Green, Ph.D. and Alcinda Honwana, Ph. D.
This posting contains a briefing paper on "Indigenous Healing of War-Affected Children in Africa" by Edward Green and Alcinda Honwana, based on research in Mozambique and Angola. The paper reports on the effective involvement of traditional healers and customs in coping with the trauma of child soldiers and other children subjected to violence. The paper was published in the Indigenous Knowledge series of the World Bank.
IK Notes is a monthly publication that documents development issues that can be effectively dealt with through the application of indigenous knowledge and practices. IK Notes reports periodically on Indigenous Knowledge (IK) initiatives in Sub-Saharan Africa. It is published by the Africa Region's Knowledge and Learning Center as part of an evolving IK partnership between the World Bank, communities, NGOs, development institutions and multilateral organizations. http://www.africaaction.org/docs99/viol9907.htm
Child Soldiers, Felton, J. (2008, July 1). CQ Global Researcher, 2, 183-211. Retrieved July 18, 2008, from CQ Global Researcher
An in-depth look at child soldiers, their struggles and successes as well as the international community’s responsibility to prevent more recruitment.
Beyond Victimhood: Engaging Women in the Pursuit of Peace, by Donald Steinberg
Testimony to the House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs, by Donald Steinberg, Deputy President, International Crisis Group, to Subcommittee on International Organizations, Human Rights and Oversight, 15 May 2008
Considering Victims: The Aceh Peace Process from a Transitional Justice Perspective, By Ross Clarke, Galuh Wandita, Samsidar, January 2008, First Published by
International Center for Transitional Justice (ICTJ) – Indonesia
Despite considerable progress, rising tensions between and among various actors have
illuminated the need to evaluate peace-building efforts from a transitional justice perspective.
This report, based on research conducted by the International Center for Transitional Justice
(ICTJ) and Acehnese civil society, aims to provide such an evaluation, paying particular
attention to the voices of victims.
Access to Resources
Why We Fight, a film by Eugene Jarecki
A documentary that examines America's policies regarding making war, most recently the Iraq war and what is termed "the Bush doctrine" that includes pre-emptive strikes. The author suggests that this policy has been in the works for many years, reviewing past wars in the 20th century. A variety of individuals are asked "Why We Fight?" with, predictably, a variety of answers. This is followed by a look at today's U.S. military/industrial complex via interviews with individuals involved with it.
Oil for Soil: Toward a Grand Bargain on Iraq and the Kurds, Middle East Report N°80, 28 October 2008
This report prepared by the International Crisis Group offers a bold proposal for resolving the long-festering conflict over Kirkuk and other disputed territories that threaten to disrupt Iraq’s relative peace.
ISPAC Annual Conference, Keynote Address by Antonio Maria Costa, Executive Director, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, 3-5 December 2004atCourmayeur
“These insights into the links between the presence of natural resources in regions marked by conflict and the attendant presence of organized crime also support the position I want to advance today: I believe that organized crime perpetuates humanitarian disasters, that it has a vested interest in doing so, and that criminal organizations are invariably “silent partners” in the world-wide business of conflict.”
Prevention of Violence
Address by Gareth Evans, President of International Crisis Group and Foreign Minister of Australia 1988-96, to New Zealand Institute of International Affairs, Wellington
This speech outlines seven lessons learned as to how better to prevent the outbreak, escalation and recurrence of deadly conflict and mass violence.
West Point Classes Focus on War Ethics, by Rachel Martin, Morning Edition, May 3, 2007
Seniors at the
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=9972583
Shattered Dreams: The Struggle to Reconstruct Iraq, 55:00 minute A World of Possibilities radio program
While the White House seeks to persuade the American public that the "surge" is reducing violence and enabling Iraqis to create a self-governing democracy, Iraqi and international NGO's are struggling to make that goal a reality. We speak with aid workers, conflict mediators and development specialists as they encounter hostility playing midwife to a new democracy in the "cradle of civilization". Guests: Kasra Mofarah, Executive Coordinator NCCI, David Steele, Reconciliation Facilitator, United States Institute of Peace, Basma Al-Khateeb, IAA Project Manager for Women and Youth Programs, Ms. Hero Anwar and Nabil Al-Tikriti, Hero is the HR and Program Manager for REACH an Iraq NGO; Nabil is a US Institute of Peace Fellow, as well as an Assistant Professor for the University of Mary Washington. Produced with support from the Ford Foundation.
http://www.aworldofpossibilities.com/details.cfm?id=333
Hard Power / Soft Power: Peacebuilding at the Pentagon, 55:00 minute A World of Possibilities radio program
A landmark 2005 directive issued by the U.S. Defense Department for the first time placed post-conflict "reconstruction and stabilization" on the same level with the U.S. military's role as war-fighter. However, the implementation of this directive has led many to fear that in embracing "peacebuilding", the Pentagon is actually militarizing and commercializing it. Guests: Lisa Schirch, Professor of Peacebuilding, Eastern Mennonite University, Col. John Agoglia, Director of the U.S. Army's Peacekeeping and Stability Operations Institute (PKSOI) at Carlisle, PA, Lorelei Kelly, Policy Director for the Real Security Initiative, The White House Project, Eric Schwartz, Executive Director Connect US Fund. Produced with support from the Ford Foundation.
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