The consequences of child soldiering

Training and employment more important than psychosocial rehabilitation for former child soldiers in Uganda

By: Blattman, C.
Published by: Households in Conflict Network (HiCN) , 2006
Via: Eldis

What are the long-term effects of child soldiering? This study of northern Uganda finds that only a small percentage of ex-child soldiers experience ongoing psychological trauma. Instead, it suggests that the primary disadvantage these young people face compared with their peers are impediments to employment – especially physical disabilities, and deficits in education and training resulting from interrupted schooling. The study is based on interviews conducted in northern Uganda with more than 1000 households and 741 young people, including 462 of whom had been abducted to serve as child soldiers in the civil war. The analysis presents qualitative and quantitative findings on the long-term psychological, economic and political effects of child soldiering.