Youth and violent conflict: society and development in crisis?

International governmental policy and youth and violent conflict

By: Ebata M, Izzi V, Lenton A, Ngela E & Sampson P
Published by: United Nations (UN) Development Programme (UNDP) , 2006
Via: Eldis

This review explores the intersection between youth and violent conflict, with a view to enhancing policy and offering programming guidance. The review identifies key issues related to youth and violent conflict, explores how the issue of youth and violent conflict is currently address in key policy frameworks, and offers an overview of current programmes put in place by UNDP and other key international actors. Findings of the review include:

• the "problem" of youth and violent conflict is a serious concern to many international actors, and this has led to a myriad of different responses. However, there is an absence of a working framework for youth and violent, conflict, reflecting a lack of consensus on how to understand the issue
• UNDP and other actors in the UN system, along with donors, have been trying to address some of the challenges of the situation of youth. Activities have ranged from traditional and special education measures, volunteering and peace training to youth employment schemes and reintegration of ex-combatants. For the most part, these efforts have been small scale, time-limited and under-resourced
• a more comprehensive freamwork is needed with urgency. Above all, such a framework for youth and violent conflict should stress the importance of "doing no harm".