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37 Cornell Int'l L.J. 513 (2004)
Psychosocial Issues in Reintegrating Child Soldiers

handle is hein.journals/cintl37 and id is 521 raw text is: Psychosocial Issues in Reintegrating Child Soldiers Dr. Michael Wessellst Introduction ..................................................... 513 I. The Impact of War on Child Soldiers ..................... 515 II. Approaches to Healing Child Soldiers .................... 516 III. The Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration P rocess ................................................... 5 18 IV. Critical Issues in Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration ............................................. 521 C onclusion ...................................................... 525 Introduction A useful way to begin is to examine the title of our session-The Prob- lem of Re-Acclimating Child Soldiers into Society Assuming Peacekeeping Is Successful. Aside from the question of who decides when peacekeeping is successful, one might ask why the focus is not on child soldiers who need to be demobilized and reintegrated amidst an ongoing conflict. In north- ern Uganda, for example, children do not have the luxury of peacekeeping, a postconflict accord, or a viable peace process, but demobilization and reintegration is important nonetheless. It is also important to think carefully about some of the key terms used in this discussion. Last night, Mr. Kargbo reminded us that many of the important terms have different meanings in different cultures. The term child is by no means universal, as views of childhood are culturally, socially, and politically constructed. For example, throughout sub-Saharan Africa, a young person who has completed a cultural rite of passage into manhood or womanhood is thereafter regarded as an adult. Typically, this occurs somewhere around the age of fourteen years, though it may also occur earlier or later, depending on the context. If an outsider comes in and expresses concern over the use of child soldiers, local people may reply that they have no child soldiers since in their view, a 15-year-old boy t Senior Child Protection Specialist, Christian Children's Fund and Professor of Psychology, Randolph-Macon College; former President of the Division of Peace Psychology of the American Psychological Association and of Psychologists for Social Responsibility. Dr. Wessells's research on children and armed conflict examines child soldiers, psychosocial assistance in emergencies, and postconflict reconstruction for peace. He regularly advises UN agencies, donors, and governments on policies regarding child protection and well-being. In countries such as Angola, Sierra Leone, Uganda, East Timor, Kosova, and Afghanistan, he helps to develop community-based, culturally grounded programs that assist children, families, and communities affected by armed conflict. 37 CORNELL INT'L LJ. 513 (2004)

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