IN MEMORY OF ELIZABETH BENNETT

I met Liz Bennett after an ISS seminar on the issue of small arms proliferation and its effect on a culture of violence in Africa.

	She came to discuss the issue of child soldiers, and explained that she wanted to draw the attention of the world to the plight of children in armed conflict, both as victims and as perpetrators of violence. She wished to make a contribution that would stop this practice. I explained that if she could plan a project and obtain funding for its execution, the Arms Management Programme at the ISS would provide an institutional umbrella for the project. It was thus that Liz started as head of the ACT project at the ISS a year later. Liz Bennett sadly passed away at 19:30 on 8 July at the Sun Gardens Hospice in Pretoria. Her sudden death came as a great shock to all who worked with her at the ISS, where she was greatly honoured and respected. Liz was true. She had the guts, the energy and willpower to actually make her dream come true. She was brave, facing a largely academic world with her profound conviction over the objective of her efforts. In less than two years she had gained the trust of the people at the Institute, who learned to rely on her drive and spirit and on her instinct to do the right thing. She was also caring, not only to the children who were her primary concern, but to all those who came into contact with her.

The Institute will continue to be inspired by Liz. Ultimately she represented what we all in our hearts wish to be: the caring individual who feels she has an obligation to change a reality that is wrong; the individual who will stand up as the conscience of the high and mighty. She has become — to us — a lighthouse showing not the how but the why of our efforts at improving human security in Africa. And for this, we thank her. 

Virginia Gamba

CHILD SOLDIERS IN AFRICA

Civil war and other conflicts have not only destroyed civil society and the infrastructure of towns, cities and nations, but also the lives of thousands upon thousands of women and children who have been forced to live a life they would not choose under normal circumstances. As a result of conflicts and wars, children have been denied the right to be protected by their parents and families. They have been denied the right to a proper education that would lead to empowerment through employment. In return, they roam their world hungry, impoverished, without family and adequate shelter, and dying without hope.

	"We killed an old man. We were told to keep jumping on him. So we did that until he died. He didn't cry - he just died quietly." Charles, 13 Eric Miller/IAfrika Photos

But worse, children have been educated to master the means of violence. They have been inculcated into a culture of severe violence through indoctrination and fear as they have been both victims and perpetrators of violence in ongoing conflicts. This results in psychological trauma and/or physical disability, preventing them from living a normal life.

Children have been the silent victims of this very violent century.

Olara Otunnu, the United Nations Special Representative on children in armed conflict, paints the gruesome picture: "In the course of the last decade, we have seen two million children killed. One million orphaned, six million seriously injured or permanently disabled, twelve million made homeless and ten million left with serious psychological trauma. A large number of children, especially young women, have been made the targets of rape and other forms of sexual violence as a deliberate instrument of war."

At the threshold of the new millennium, Africa particularly is confronted by a scarred generation who is expected to become the leaders, drivers of economic well-being and the caretakers of the continent’s future. The importance of proper and successful rehabilitation, both for the psychological well-being of these traumatised children (some already adults), as well as the socio-economic advancement of this troubled generation has to be seriously considered.

Unless these issues are addressed by the governments involved, efforts to redeem what has been lost, will be in vain, as many of the existing and potential problems can be directly and/or indirectly linked to this generation.

Apart from the need to demobilise child soldiers, the issues of rehabilitation while children are still young, so that they do not become socio-economic problems for society and eventually just another statistic, need to be focused on.

Many rehabilitation programmes have been started out of this need and many individuals have been served and helped to find appropriate solutions that would enable them to make a contribution towards the solution of problems within their own societies. But so much more needs to be done to make a real difference to the thousands that have yet to be given back their dignity.

	"I was taught how to 'go to church' - to go to the battlefield, kill the wounded and undress them." Dennis, 13, abducted at 11 Eric Miller/iAfrika Photos

ACt project within the ISS

This is the fourth newsletter of ACT, the Action Plan Project for Children in Armed Conflict that forms part of the activities of the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) in South Africa. The project undertakes applied research on the issue of children in armed conflict in order to develop a plan of action to put a stop to the utilisation of children in war. ACT is funded by the Government of Norway.

The purpose of the ACT project is to study the use and abuse of children in and for war in depth. The aim is to generate information and formulate and propose practical recommendations to improve the efforts to prevent recruitment and achieve demobilisation. The project also accesses the network of agencies dealing with children in armed conflict to facilitate an ongoing exchange of facts, concerns and ideas which help to:

advocate for international justice in action by the establishment of legal mechanisms for the protection of children;



advocate codes of conduct for the non-recruitment or engagement of children in armed conflict that would be rigorously adhered to at the highest political levels;



create increased public awareness that will permit universal action against the exploitation of children in armed conflict; and



strengthen established programmes to assist children involved in armed conflict and to stop the practice in future.

To achieve this end, ACT’s two-tiered approach focuses firstly on independent fact-finding components in sub-Saharan Africa, and liaison with other international and regional networks actively involved in the subject. Secondly, the project utilises the results of fact-finding activities to produce an action plan that would lead to the implementation of the above goals.

The ultimate objective of this co-ordinated action plan is to impact upon international public opinion and government practices to stop the current utilisation of children in conflict as combatants and as supporters of war.

ACT considers itself to be ideally placed at the ISS in South Africa.

It is part of the Arms Management Programme (AMP) which has a regional outlook and covers most countries in sub-Saharan Africa.

Not only is the ISS one of the few applied research institutes based in sub-Saharan Africa, but it has the expertise to facilitate high-level meetings between government officials, non-governmental organisations and international agencies on measures to be taken, for example, to control, limit and reduce the amount of small arms trafficking taking place across Africa. It is well-placed to initiate practical programmes aimed at the reversal of a culture of violence in societies.

Within the ISS, the ACT project also benefits from the availability of state-of-the-art conflict and peacekeeping analysis, as well as expertise on a wide variety of human security issues. The project is thus in an ideal position to consider the issue of children in armed conflict within a multidisciplinary context, a fact that can only enhance its research output.

REHABILITATION OF CHILDREN

There are three issues that need to be dealt with in any rehabilitation programme geared to address the needs of the child soldier.

To restore dignity, both the internal and external spheres in which children find themselves have to be dealt with.

Firstly, the self-image or self-esteem of these children - how they perceive themselves within the context of their community, family and peers - has to be carefully built up and restored.

Secondly, children have to develop the capability to fend for themselves through a proper education and appropriate skills training. Where the option of schooling is ruled out by age and other external factors, skills training of both boys and girls is essential.

The success of rehabilitation programmes will be measured, among others, by the degree to which these two issues have successfully been incorporated.

Thirdly, the successful reintegration of child soldiers back into their communities is of vital importance. So often children will remain within the armed forces because they fear the wrath and revenge of their communities that might want to punish them for their actions during the war, whether these were carried out voluntarily or through threat of force. They are afraid to be marginalised and rejected, or even killed for their past deeds. If the first two steps are successfully employed in a programme, and former child soldiers are still rejected by their community, the programme is unlikely to be successful in the longer term, as the community in the African context plays a significant role in the establishment of the identity of the individual. This is where a further focus on reconciliation becomes essential for the success of the overall programme of rehabilitation.

	New arrivals at a trauma centre - these 11 year olds had been interrogated at military barracks for a month after escaping from the rebels Inger Heldal

Once children have been reconciled with themselves and their communities, and been given the tools to make them self-sufficient, such programmes can be regarded as successful.

Focus on Mozambique

After twenty years of devastating civil war, Mozambique was facing a myriad problems at independence in 1994. The country had virtually no infrastructure available to provide for the enormous needs of its citizens. Economic conditions were exceptionally poor and education had all but come to a standstill. The countryside - including much needed agricultural land - was littered with landmines, and large quantities of arms and ammunition were stashed away all over the country.

Part of the agreement between the former fighting factions, Frelimo and Renamo, was an extensive demobilisation programme for combatants that included their reintegration into society. However, as in other parts of the world that achieved peace after a protracted war, no specific provision was made in these plans for the demobilisation and rehabilitation of child soldiers, or their successful reconciliation with and reintegration into their communities.

As a result of the severe trauma of the war, the physical and psychological rehabilitation of former child soldiers are vital. Some programmes in Mozambique have thus been established to focus specifically on these issues.

Rebuilding Hope

Rebuilding Hope is a non-governmental organisation that was founded in December 1996. It focuses on the psychological healing of former child soldiers together with their reintegration into their communities. The organisation has identified that children who were actively involved in either Renamo or Frelimo during the war, had experienced emotional trauma to such a degree that it was necessary to provide professional psychological treatment to ensure their return to some sort of normalcy. Secondly, the organisation found that the children were not welcomed back home, as they have committed atrocities that the community was not prepared to forgive or overlook. They often displayed violent behaviour and were without direction. The community would therefore not include them in any community projects. Rebuilding Hope thus focuses on two kinds of initiatives in its programme: psychotherapy and psycho-social activities, and the promotion of profitable family and community-based activities. The organisation co-operates with traditional healers/doctors, religious leaders, community leaders and self-assistance community networks. It also provides assistance in educational programmes and community development projects.

Youth Social Reintegration Programme

The Youth Social Reintegration Programme grew out of the need to trace child soldiers and to reunite them with their parents and families after the war. In the organisation’s view, rehabilitation has three pillars: dealing with the past, making adjustments and creating future options (participation and problem-solving). Through experience, the programme has found that if people are provided with options for the future, they tend to adjust and deal with the past and proceed with their lives. By getting groups of young people together to talk about their needs, their futures and their hopes and by helping them to set realistic goals, the organisation managed to encourage problem-solving not only among the youth themselves, but also within their communities. They have to respond to their own problems by helping one another and, as such, the whole community benefits from collaborative projects. The longer term aim of this initiative is to enable them to produce a new generation who will have opportunities that they never had. To solve problems successfully, they are encouraged not only to look back, but also to look forward to a future. The organisation regards the brainstorming sessions that the group has about needs and future goals as therapeutic. Its philosophy is based on the viewpoint that transformation and participation must go together. There has to be adjustments after the war and, subsequently, there has to be options available to provide these children and youth with a future.

Creative problem-solving consists of a process through which participants take ownership of their problems and look for practical, realistic answers. In this way, they are encouraged to solve their own problems and feel that they are doing something positive to enhance their communities.

Propaz

Propaz started with peace promotion in January 1995. It emerged from two associations in Mozambique working with former combatants: the Demobilised Soldiers Association, AMODEG, and the Disabled Veterans Association, ADEMIMO. These organisations saw the need for conflict resolution in communities where former child soldiers and other youth who were affected by the war were experiencing personal problems that affected the whole community. They were violent and unco-operative, resulting in their exclusion from community projects. Propaz identified that it needed to work with the community and former child soldiers from both political parties to be able to solve conflicts in communities. Its strategy is to get groups together that consist equally of members from both political parties and the community to discuss their feelings, problems and needs. Once these groups are established, Propaz starts with leadership training. The programme has created an example of reconciliation as the two political parties sat around the same table to thrash out the problems in the community. This, in turn, has brought credibility to the process, as the community saw that people with divergent opinions could work together successfully. Youth were no longer violent, and were involved in leadership development. Eventually, some of the participants became community leaders, while others were trained to become peace promoters, multiplying the programme into other communities. They have also been employed through the projects that they started as a group.

According to the director, Mr Salomao Tirco Mungoi, one of the success stories of the programme has had an impact on whole communities in the south of Mozambique. During one of the discussion sessions, it was concluded that, for that particular community, real peace would mean an area without landmines, where children and families can play and walk without fear of stepping on a mine. This resulted in some of the former soldiers voluntarily coming forward to show the police where they have planted landmines and where small arms were hidden. It resulted in collaboration between the police and former combatants, while clearing the area at the same time of dangerous landmines and illegal small arms.

The organisations involved in rehabilitation programmes in Mozambique have evidently just touched the tip of the iceberg. There are areas in the country where no rehabilitation yet takes place, and where the needs are enormous with no hope in sight. Rehabilitation organisations can only focus on small groups of people and the thousands of people that were affected by the war cannot benefit from the limited, albeit commendable efforts of a handful of NGOs.

The call therefore has to be made to the international community to put even more pressure on governments to stop the use and abuse of children as soldiers, so that prevention rather than cure can officially become the philosophy behind attempts to alleviate the plight of child soldiers.

GIRL SOLDIERS

Girl soldeirs have specific needs for rehabilitation which are different from those of boy soldiers. Yet, these are mostly not taken into account in reintegration programmes. Girl soldiers have often been raped, used as sex slaves, had unwanted pregnancies and sometimes even lost their babies. Most of the time, they have venereal diseases and/or AIDS.

According to some of the rehabilitation workers, the girl soldier is merely another statistic of the war that everybody prefers to forget because it is too painful for both the girl soldier and her family to talk about what happened to her. The girl soldier is discouraged from sharing her war experiences, as it is an embarrassment to her parents that she has been sexually abused.

	MARY - Another landmine victim Inger Heldal

However, based on the information that is currently available, it is clear that Africa has to pay particular attention to the needs of girl soldiers. Not only is the psychological damage suffered by these girls often seemingly insurmountable, but the physical damage and health problems resulting from their experiences during the war also need equal attention. Preventing young girls from becoming part of war and conflict is clearly the ideal, but those who have already been adversely affected, need to be assisted to enable them to live a productive life, or at least be assured of proper medical assistance where their lives are threatened by diseases such as AIDS. A concerted international effort is urgently needed in this regard.

"My dearest God-given mother and friend I wish to first of all thank the good and loving Father, for having been so kind to me, in allowing you to come into my life. I also thank you for being the only friend who seems to know what it means to be an abducted girl - come home. It isn’t an easy situation mother,...

Mother I really prayed that someday I would be able to marry and make a home with a loving husband who would help me put all my past torture and suffering aside, but it looks like it’s not yet in the Lord’s budget for me. It takes me back to the people’s view of us when we just returned. They called us all sorts of names - garbage, rebels, man eaters, residues, left over food, corpses, murderers, spent force, and many others...

All I need right now mama, is to go to school and read as mad. I simply must succeed in my furthering of studies..."

(Extract of letter sent to Liz Bennett from Beatrice Amiri, Uganda)

It is essential that more attention should be paid to specialised programmes that combine counselling with skills training, as most of the former child soldiers cannot be reintegrated into a normal school system because of age and the psychological trauma they have expereinced. These will cater for both the physical and psychological needs of such children.

There is clearly still too little being done for girl soldiers, especially because they have very specific psychological and physical needs that differ vastly from other traumatised children.

ACT ACTIVITIES: JUNDE - SEPTEMBER 1999

June

Preparation and dissemination of Interact Newsletter number 3. Preparation of the Photographic Exhibition for the OAU summit in Algiers.

July

Elizabeth Bennett passed away after a short illness on 8 July. The photo exhibition goes to Algiers.

August

Deirdre van der Merwe addressed Commando leaders at the Regional Peacekeeping Training Centre in Harare about the issue of child soldiers. Deirdre van der Merwe undertook a trip to Maputo to see what rehabilitation programmes are currently offered for former child soldiers.

September

Preparation and dissemination of Interact Newsletter number 4. Preparation of publication in memory of Elizabeth Bennett with the following contents:

All the previous ACT publications edited by Elizabeth Bennett.

Photos in the Photographic exhibition that was the heart of Elizabeth Bennett.

New chapters, including a chapter on rehabilitation, the psychological trauma of the child soldier, the efforts of the international community and NGOs towards stopping the practice of using child soldiers in war and conflict.

Research and writing:

The following monographs have been published:

Using Children in Armed Conflict: A legitimate African Tradition? and Criminalising Recruitment of Child Soldiers both by Tom Bennett, ISS Monograph Series No. 32; and Child Soldiers in Southern Africa which looks at The Social Reintegration of the Child involved in the Armed Conflict in Mozambique by Miguel A Mausse and Children involved in South Africa’s Wars: After Soweto 1976 by Daniel Nina, ISS Monograph Series No 37.

Articles on child soldiers appeared in the OAU/ISS newsletters under the heading ‘Small Arms Proliferation and Africa’:

November/December 1998: General article

January/March 1999: Focus on Sierra Leone

April/June 1999: Focus on Uganda

ACT Activities for the next three months:

Fieldtrips to Uganda as a follow-up exercise on the progress in the region.

Publication and dissemination of the memorial publication.

Regional and international workshop together with launching of the memorial publication.