An Assessment of Services for Child Soldiers

Humanitarian relief organizations (HRO) have an important role in providing services during complex humanitarian emergencies (CHE), especially to children in armed conflict. This study examines the strengths and limitations of HROs ability to provide services for child soldiers globally by surveying and interviewing various local and international HROs. HROs were found to provide more indirect services than direct services and limited number gender specific services for female child soldiers. Also, HROs reported barriers to collaboration between organizations due lack of sharing resources, limited exchange of “best practices” and competition of financial resources. Further research is needed to determine how HROs can improve planning and implementation of services to child soldiers, especially females, and effectively collaborate with other HROs to provide comprehensive services.