Children are often the most vulnerable group in any conflict. They face the brunt of violence, displacement, and trauma. When societies transition from conflict to peace, children are at the heart of any effort to rebuild a safe, secure, and sustainable future. In post-conflict settings, addressing children’s needs ensures their protection and plants the seeds for long-term stability and development. To achieve this, we must focus on building structures prioritizing safety, security, and sustainability for children as they grow into the leaders of tomorrow.

Children as Agents of Change

Children in post-conflict societies are both survivors and agents of change. They have experienced the harsh realities of war, including the loss of family members, displacement, and disrupted education. In these conditions, their immediate needs often overshadow their potential contributions to society. However, engaging children in peacebuilding activities helps transform them into key stakeholders in the rebuilding process.

Children’s experiences can often shape how future generations perceive conflict and peace. Providing them with the tools to engage in dialogue, education, and development can prevent the recurrence of violence. Children can become champions of peace, helping to cultivate a culture of non-violence and cooperation.

Safety: Protection from Physical and Psychological Harm

The first step in creating a safe environment for children in post-conflict settings is ensuring their protection from physical and psychological harm. This involves rebuilding healthcare systems, ensuring access to essential services like clean water and sanitation, and creating secure living environments in refugee camps or newly rebuilt communities.

Psychological support is critical in helping children heal from trauma. Post-conflict environments can be stressful, leading to anxiety, depression, and long-term mental health issues for children. Establishing mental health services, trauma counseling, and safe spaces for play and socialization helps children recover and reintegrate into society.

In many post-conflict societies, the reintegration of former child soldiers is a significant challenge. These children need targeted interventions that address their unique experiences. Programs that provide vocational training, education, and psychological support are essential in helping them reintegrate into their communities and leave behind the violence they have endured.

Security: Protecting Rights and Creating Inclusive Systems

In a post-conflict world, security is more than just physical protection; it encompasses the legal and social structures that ensure children’s rights are respected. Establishing the rule of law is crucial for creating a secure environment where children can thrive. This includes holding perpetrators of violence accountable, eliminating child labor and exploitation, and addressing the needs of displaced children and orphans.

Security also involves creating inclusive systems that allow all children—regardless of ethnicity, gender, or socioeconomic background—equal access to education and opportunities. Post-conflict societies are often fractured along ethnic, religious, or political lines. Creating inclusive, child-centered policies helps to bridge these divides and build a more cohesive society.

Reforming education systems is key to promoting inclusion and long-term security. Schools should become places where children can learn academic skills and values of tolerance, empathy, and peace. Peace education, which teaches conflict resolution and critical thinking, can foster a new generation that rejects violence and embraces dialogue.

Sustainability: Building a Resilient Future

To create a sustainable world for children in post-conflict societies, we must focus on long-term development goals that address environmental, economic, and social sustainability. This involves rebuilding physical infrastructure and empowering children and youth with the skills and opportunities to lead in the future.

Economic sustainability is crucial for creating job opportunities for young people, reducing poverty, and preventing future conflicts. Investing in education, vocational training, and entrepreneurship programs can help children develop the skills needed for the workforce, promoting self-sufficiency and economic growth in the long term.

Environmental sustainability is another key aspect. Post-conflict societies often suffer from environmental degradation due to the destruction of infrastructure and natural resources. Teaching children about environmental stewardship and involving them in community-based ecological projects can help restore ecosystems and promote sustainability. Children who grow up with a strong awareness of environmental issues are more likely to lead sustainable development efforts in their communities as they age.

Sustainability also includes building resilient social systems that can withstand future challenges. This means strengthening healthcare, education, and social services to ensure that children continue to receive support as they grow. It also involves creating platforms for children and youth to participate in decision-making processes, empowering them to advocate for their needs and contribute to societal development.

Role of Local and International Actors

Building a safe, secure, and sustainable world for children in post-conflict societies is a multifaceted task that requires the collaboration of local, national, and international actors. Local communities and governments play a crucial role in rebuilding the infrastructure and social systems that support children. Their involvement ensures that interventions are culturally appropriate and tailored to the community’s specific needs.

International organizations, including the United Nations, NGOs, and donor agencies, provide essential financial, technical, and logistical support to post-conflict societies. They can help bridge resource gaps, advocate for children’s rights, and facilitate peacebuilding efforts. International actors are also responsible for ensuring that interventions align with global frameworks such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which aim to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure peace and prosperity for all.

Building a safe, secure, and sustainable world with children in post-conflict societies is an urgent necessity and a long-term commitment. Children are the future of these societies, and their protection, empowerment, and inclusion are essential for lasting peace and development. By ensuring their physical and psychological safety, protecting their rights, and creating inclusive and sustainable systems, we can make a foundation for a more resilient, peaceful, and prosperous world. Through collective efforts—by governments, international organizations, communities, and children—that such a future can be realized.

Geoffrey Omony from Gulu, Uganda, is a GNRC Member and the Executive Director of Youth Leaders for Restoration and Development (YOLRED), the first organization in Uganda designed and run by former child soldiers. Geoffrey was abducted from his home village in April 1995 and was held for more than one year before he escaped. He returned home to find his family and community destroyed, while former child soldiers were often blocked from education, employment, or social services because of suspicion and stigma. Nevertheless, with the help of Arigatou International, the Goldin Institute, and local organizations, Geoffrey was able to advance his education and conduct research into the experiences of former child combatants. Geoffrey and three other ex-combatants formed YOLRED in 2016 and, since then, have provided services, held multiple events, including music therapy and community parliaments, participated in international conferences, and received global media attention.