INTRODUCTION
War conflict destroys communities and causes a plethora of damage behind its tragic trail. Furthermore, the most innocent and defenceless people in society, children, suffer the most during the war. War conflict has a tremendous impact on the life of a child and also causes significant alterations in children’s psychological state. Recruitment and use of children in armed groups and forces are among the worst and most common means of violence. Children risk their lives in armed combat and suffer severe physical and mental disabilities. This blog post aims to investigate the effects of war conflict on children and point out the urgent necessity of protecting and helping children in such difficult conditions. The paper will discuss psychological, physical, and educational challenges that children in war zones face and offer effective ways of securing their safety.
PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF WAR CONFLICT ON CHILDREN
War conflict leaves deep psychological scars in children that cause long-lasting trauma and emotional disturbance. War-torn children suffer from PTSD, hallucinations, and trauma while being helpless to deal with the horrors, they found on their childhood streets. The emotional burden of war conflict may be expressed in many ways, from stress and exaggerated fear to depression and misbehaviour. They may seek out defence mechanisms to manage, like withdrawal, aggression, or regression.[1]
As mentioned above, children in war-affected areas are likely to experience traumatic events such as violence, family member loss, displacement, persecution and discrimination, and insecurity. These factors contribute to the negative impact on children’s mental health and well-being for the rest of their lives and necessitate additional assistance and psycho-social services. Children, especially girls, are at great risk of suffering from sexual assault and abuse.
PHYSICAL HEALTH CHALLENGES FOR CHILDREN IN WAR ZONES
- Healthcare and medical services
The impact of weapon use on children’s physical well-being in a war situation, children have to go through severe challenges to have access to essential healthcare services. The available medical facilities are destroyed, and the most basic medicals are not available, including trained health professionals, which makes children even more vulnerable.[2]
- Malnutrition and food insecurity
Malnutrition and lack of food in such areas predispose them to future health complications, growth impairment, and well-being. The use of weapons during a war conflict poses a direct threat to children’s physical well-being, causing logical injuries and impairments.
EDUCATION DISRUPTION AND ITS LONG-TERM EFFECTS
- Children deprived of schools and educational opportunities
The disruption of children from schools is the consequence of war with long-lasting implications. Displacements and schools were blown up or out of order, as well as the damage due to neglect, resulting in thousands of children without quality learning. Similarly, armed conflicts negatively affect children’s involvement in education.[3] They lead to the suspension of schooling destruction of educational facilities and the displacement of learners and teachers. Apart from hindering children’s maturity, the void causes a vicious loop of poverty and insecurity.
- Psychological barriers to learning
As the psychological toll of the war positions an indelible imprint on the children, barriers to effective learning are created. This hinders their cognitive functions, processing skills, integration, and performance. Education is critical for the future of the children. This mechanism will provide them with the tools and impact to rise above the poverty and violence-ridden cycle.
PROTECTIVE STRATEGIES AND INTERVENTIONS FOR THE SAFEGUARDING OF CHILDREN’S WELL-BEING
Support systems in the form of community institutions for children living in war zones. Mental health programs that have been crafted to meet children’s wants and warfare and civil unrest are historic matters that need further strategy. Promoting children’s rights in conflict zones, the protection system for them to safeguard the well-being of children living in the horrors of war, specific interventions and strategies are required in these key areas of transformation.
- Universal Assertions and Settlements:
Fortify and uphold universal assertions such as the Tradition on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and its Discretionary Conventions. Nations ought to be held responsible for the infringement of children’s rights amid outfitted clashes.
- Strife Anticipation:
Address the root causes of clashes, advance discretion, and back serene resolutions to anticipate wars and prevent clashes from happening in the beginning.
Firstly, community institutions act as assistance platforms to provide children with a place of security and hope, lowering the horrors of warfare. Second, mental health programs that have been impacted by the said strategy offer children stepping stones to recovery by order of magnitude. Lastly, the issue of children’s rights is a critical priority in which strategies must advance the agenda to protect their health.
- Creating and supporting global awareness
- Spread stories through social media and web platforms.
- Make connections with local and international groups to spread the voice
- Work with decision-makers to address child protection in conflict zones.
- Encouraging children to speak
- Teaching children about their rights and helping them advocate for
- Create platforms for children to learn and share their experiences and ideas.
- Support children’s self-esteem to speak up for themselves against injustice.
- Child Troopers:
Take particular measures to anticipate the enlistment and utilization of child officers. Bolster restoration and reintegration programs for previous child troopers to assist them revamp their lives.[4]
- Media and Backing:
Raise mindfulness approximately the situation of children in strife through media campaigns and backing endeavours. Open weight can impact governments and worldwide organizations to require activity. By actualizing these measures and cultivating a worldwide culture of peace, ready to work towards defending children caught up in brutal and obliterating wars, guaranteeing that they are secured, backed, and allowed to revamp their lives.[5]
CONCLUSION
Without a doubt, this article outlines an issue that receives comparatively little attention, the impact of war violence on children; it examines various challenges children face, including psychological, physical, and educational needs, and suggests some protective strategies such as community support, special mental health programs, and advocacy opportunities. Therefore, through considering these factors, we want to offer a framework to help protect children while fully ensuring their welfare is not destroyed.
Author(s) Name: Smita Mandal (Campus Law Centre, University of Delhi)
Reference(s):
[1] UNICEF, “Unicef’s change agenda for protecting children in armed conflict” <https://www.unicef.org/children-under-attack/change-agenda> accessed 22 April 2024
[2] “Protecting children during armed conflict” (OCTOBER 2009) <https://childrenandarmedconflict.un.org/publications/SixgraveviolationsBooklet.pdf > accessed 22nd April 2024
[3] Cheryl Moye, “A journey… panta ta ethne” <https://www.modernday.org/profile/clmoye77/> accessed 20 April 2024
[4] Global diplomatic forum, “Protecting the child in war”< https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/protecting-children-war-global-diplomatic-forum-z0zke/> accessed 22 April 2024
[5] Denise Plattner, “Protection of Children in International Humanitarian Law”(ICRC,30 June 1984) <https://www.icrc.org/en/doc/resources/documents/article/other/57jmat.htm> accessed 23 April 2024
