Betty Bigombe, Jennings Randolph Scholar at the U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP), led an event entitled Child Soldiers: New Evidence, New Advocacy Approaches on June 1, 2007 at the USIP. Experts in the field discussed new ways of understanding the problem, the effectiveness of current reintegration programs and strategies for their improvement, as well as challenges in preventing the problem.

All of the panelists expressed a particular concern for the lack of attention paid to the girl soldiers. Jimmie Briggs, a journalist and child soldier advocate, explained that the girls suffered from “double-trauma,” they fight during the day and are subjected to sexual violence at night. He called for specialized counseling for female ex-combatants, including testing for HIV and STDs, and assistance for combatants who become mothers during conflict. Bigombe further explained that young girls who have a child during conflict had to cope with a social stigma when they returned to their communities for having sex outside of marriage and becoming “unclean”. However, Sarah Michael, Social Development Specialist at the World Bank, pointed out that if reintegration programs can help these mothers make an economic contribution to the community, then the community’s negative view of them may change.

Michael used the example of young mothers to suggest that economic reintegration can lead to social reintegration. She also discussed the self-employment model that is now followed in Central Africa by the Multi-Country Demobilization and Reintegration Program (MDRP). The model trains and provides resources for ex-combatants to start a self-employment venture in animal rearing, crop farming, small trade, or kiosk ownership. However, this reintegration model, like others, faces the challenges of child soldiers’ illiteracy and lack of formal education. Michael also pointed out some effective strategies for reintegration, like providing both specialized and group training, educating for multidimensionality, and including ex-combatants’ family and community members in the decision making processes.

Michael Wessells, Senior Child Protection Officer at the Christian Children’s Fund, also stressed the idea of a community-based strategy in reintegrating child soldiers. He further explained the need for program directors to listen to what the children themselves have to say about their experiences and needs. He contended that not all child soldiers’ experiences were the same and that the reintegration programs should reflect that.

Chris Blattman, co-founder of the Survey of War Affected Youth, echoed Wessells comment that child soldiers’ experiences are unique. He added that, in his experience working in Northern Uganda, not all child soldiers are “damaged goods” and suffer from trauma. In fact, they are the exception and not the norm. In light of this, he suggested that psychological programs be smaller and more specialized, and economic reintegration and education programs be expanded.