Invisible No More?: An Analysis of Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration Programs for Former ‘Girl Soldiers Who Become Mothers’ and Their Children

Abstract

DDR is meant to bridge the gap between child soldiering and civilian life. The challenges in the delivery of effective DDR programs serve as barriers to adequate support for child soldiers. Increasingly, research has also considered the gender-specific challenges and barriers that former girl soldiers face and the limited (if any) support they receive through DDR initiatives. DDR supports for girl soldiers who have become mothers are even less likely to meet their complex needs. As such, ‘girl soldiers as mothers’ and their children remain outside the dominant DDR discourse and subsequently do not get the attention, they need in DDR programming documents. While the discourse within DDR programs has progressed to include sexual violence and some gender-specific needs, these additions are insufficient for meeting the diverse needs of girl child soldiers and their children. The result is girl soldiers who become mothers and their children remain unprepared for returning to their communities or society, and their communities continue to be unprepared to receive them.