Measuring the Unmeasurable: Quantifying Community Reintegration of Former Child Soldiers

1. Measuring the Unmeasurable:Quantifying Community Reintegration of Former Child Soldiers Katherine Randall Tomo Hamakawa Carr Center February 22, 2008

2. Overview • Definitions and norms • History of Conflict • Project Overview • Indicators • Data • Reintegrated child

3. International Norms on Child Soldiers: Reintegration defined • International DDR Standards 2006 Reintegration is the process by which ex-combatants acquire civilian status and gain sustainable employment and income. Reintegration is essentially a social and economic process with an open time-frame, primarily taking place in communities at the local level. It is part of the general development of a country and a national responsibility, and often necessitates long-term external assistance. • Paris Principles 2007 The process by which children transition into civil society and enter meaningful roles and identities as civilians who are accepted by their families and communities in a context of local and national reconciliation. Sustainable reintegration is achieved when the political, legal, economic and social conditions needed for children to maintain life, livelihood and dignity have been secured. This process aims to ensure that children can access their rights, including formal and non-formal education, family unity, dignified livelihoods, and safety from harm.

4. What does all the jargon mean? Let’s say you are a child protection manager for Save the Children UK in Cote d’Ivoire. What activities would you design and implement to operationalize this ideal in a “community reintegration” program? Save UK’s reintegration program: - 1st phase “reinsertion” - 2nd phase “reintegration”

5. Cote d’Ivoire 1960 – gained independence from France 1999 – attempted military coup 2002 – armed uprising: government forces lose control of north 2005 – ceasefire 2008 – disarmament not started, election date not yet set - “no peace, no war”

6. Project Overview • Empowerment • Educational attainment • Referral to Formal Schools • Economic Independence

7. Indicators(refer to handout) 1 HEALTH Hygiene / cleanliness Frequency of illness Use of contraception Responsibility for medical care of child 2 ECONOMIC CONDITION Frequency of meals Ability to purchase essentials Ability to budget Sources of income (who helps you) 3RELATIONSHIP WITH THE FAMILY Life in the family arena Acceptance by the family Financial support of the child by the family School support of the child by the family Listened to by the family Punishment methods of the child within the family 4 ACCEPTANCE BY THE COMMUNITY Access to leisure and recreational activities Participation in community activities Perception of the child in the community Listened to by the community 5 PSYCHOLOGICAL AND INTERPERSONAL COMPETENCES Politeness Sense of sharing Abilities in communication and expression Ability to motivate others Ability to plan for the future Identification with and imitation of models Assumption of responsibilities 6.SEXUAL LIFE Choice : ability to say yes / no to a partner Changing of partners Protected sex

8. Data(refer to handouts) Distributional Longitudinal

9. Indicators: Analysis Perception Indicators Educational Indicators “Safe Spaces” Economic Indicators Output Indicator – Birth Certificates

10. Reintegrated Child • If a child scores perfectly on these indicators, then is the child reintegrated? • What does an average child look like? • If these children are above average, is that a problem? Might it lead to re-stigmatization? • What justification could be given for this? Especially with former child soldiers whose associations were by choice?