Why does children’s security matter? How can civil society, security providers, democratic institutions and the international community effectively engage children and youth on security issues? This publication from the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces examines the links between children, youth and security. It argues that the concerns of children and youth are often overlooked on the security agenda. However, children and youth can have a positive contribution to make in addressing security concerns.
Children and youth are of importance to the security agenda as victims, witnesses and perpetrators. Most importantly, children are active agents with positive contributions to make, whether to post-conflict peacebuilding or tacking street violence. Children’s security also matters because of human rights obligations, the need to protect social capital and the significant portion of the population that children constitute. It is therefore necessary to identify the mechanisms required to deliver security services adapted to the needs of children and youth.
The best way to advance children’s security is through strengthening the existing security governance framework, focusing in particular on local ownership and human rights:
- Security governance acknowledges the need to involve a wide spectrum of actors. A key issue is to expand the range of actors involved in child protection. A holistic security governance approach is needed to ensure the protection of children.
- The governance approach enables security discussion in terms of human rights, including children’s rights. The extent to which children and their needs are integrated into multi-sector decision-making is a core indicator of ‘good governance’.
- While discussions of security governance may reflect children’s needs, children are largely absent from the security sector reform (SSR) agenda. Including civil society as a security stakeholder is essential for advancing child protection as part of SSR.
- Numerous references draw special attention to, and call for action on behalf of, girls, while particular references to boys are less common. A more egalitarian message for all is that both girls and boys receive special attention.
- Children’s participation is often driven by outsiders. Local ownership requires pro-active engagement with communities, including children and youth, to identify and resolve local security problems.
- Protection issues relating to children tend to be approached as separate thematic areas. As a result, there is a risk that they are overlooked in programming and the allocation of funds.
- Civil society organisations should work with other actors to tackle youth exclusion, identify children at risk and address child protection concerns. They should provide avenues for children to express themselves on issues affecting them.
- Security providers should monitor threats to children. They should promote good practice and proper mechanisms for child protection and dealing with children in conflict with the law. They should have specialised staff for sensitive child protection issues.
- Democratic institutions should ensure that they have the powers to monitor children’s security issues. They should listen to and address the concerns of children and develop a national development plan that puts children centre stage.
- The international community should call for the ratification of instruments addressing children and security. It should address child protection in technical assistance agreements and develop expertise and promote good practice on children’s security issues.
