Job for former child soldiers

The ILO is pursuing its efforts to strengthen the economic component of reintegration programmes for former child soldiers in countries concerned. Two new projects have started in 2012.

News | 06 December 2012
Providing jobs to former child soldiers of legal working age is of key importance to ensure their sustainable reintegration into society and to prevent them from being re-recruited by armed forces or groups or from engaging in exploitative work. The ILO is therefore pursuing its efforts to strengthen the economic component of reintegration programmes for former child soldiers in countries concerned. Two new projects have started in 2012.
 
In Somalia, the European Union is funding an ILO project to support the economic reintegration of children formerly associated with armed forces and groups in the city of Mogadishu and support children at risk of recruitment. The aim is to help them access decent work and sustain themselves and their families. This is done through a local partner and in close collaboration with UNICEF which continues to support other aspects of reintegration (such as education, psychosocial support, medical care, etc.)

In the Democratic Republic of the Congo (RDC), UNICEF has an ongoing programme to support the reintegration of children released from armed forces and groups in the provinces of North and South Kivu and Province Orientale. Activities in support to children are conducted by local partners. UNICEF requested ILO’s support to build the capacity of these local partners in the field of economic reintegration and to monitor their activities.