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Former Child Soldier Reintegration in Uganda: Lessons Learned from Africa and the Way Forward

January 24, 2018 @ 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm

Please join the Wilson Center Africa Program for a discussion on “Former Child Soldier Reintegration in Uganda: Lessons Learned from Africa and the Way Forward” on Wednesday, January 24, 2018 from 2:00 to 3:30pm in the 6th Floor Auditorium. This event will explore the reintegration of youth from conflict zones into their communities in Uganda, and explore lessons learned and best practices from other countries.

Even as efforts to prevent the recruitment of children in armed conflict continue, the reintegration of children affected by war continues to be a pressing issue globally and in Africa. In Uganda, although the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) has been diminished, it remains active in neighboring countries such as the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and South Sudan. Further, LRA violence has left tens of thousands of formerly abducted children who face a multitude of challenges integrating back into their communities. Current efforts, including job training, education, public health, and amnesty programs, often lack the long-term intensity needed to meet the magnitude of the challenge. While the scope of the issue is daunting, the way forward can be charted by looking at lessons learned in the reintegration of child soldiers in other ended conflicts, in supporting grassroots reconciliation and peacebuilding efforts, and by tailoring programming to the needs of the various sectors affected by violence.

The panel will discuss current efforts to reintegrate youth from conflict zones into their communities, including challenges to youth integration, progress made, and room for building on and expanding current efforts. Additionally, the event will explore lessons learned from international NGOs, governments, and other stakeholders and evaluate the effectiveness of current efforts. The event will offer policy considerations and options for reintegrating youth from conflict zones into communities, schools, and work environments.

Speakers

Sasha Lezhnev
Founding Director, Grassroots Reconciliation Group and Deputy Director of Policy, Enough Project

Dr. Jamie Van Leeuwen
Former Wilson Center Public Policy Fellow, and Founder and CEO, Global Livingston Institute

Ms. Chidi Blyden Rowe
Former Director for East Africa at the Office of the Secretary of Defense, and Former Director, Africa Program at the Center for Civilians in Conflict

Moderator
Dr. Monde Muyangwa
Director, Wilson Center Africa Program

 

To register for the event through the Woodrow Wilson Center, click here.

Venue

Woodrow Wilson Center
1300 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20004 United States
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