The role of girl soldiers in armed conflict: case study of Northern Uganda (1986-1996)

Abstract

Wars both intra and interstate have led to massive violations of human rights. The problem of child soldiers has however not been emphasized, and more so the participation of girls as soldiers in armed conflict. While authors writing on child soldiers have referred more to boys than giris, the role of girls in conflict either as active combatants or in supportive roles cannot be ignored. Most of these roles appear to perpetuate gender stereotyped roles existing in societies during peacetime. such as cooking, child care and providing of sexual favors to men and boys. While girls will join the armed group for various reasons such as protection, avenge the death of family members, and as an economic incentive, majority are abducted and forced to offer comfort to fighting soldiers either as 'wives' or sex slaves as well as being put on the frontline as combatants and human shield. This exposes the girls who are often abducted as young as seven years to psychological, physical and emotional trauma as well as long term gynecological and medical complications including HIV and AIDS resulting from rapes and other sexual and gender based violence. Integration of such girls once released from the fighting forces or after escape is often difficult especially for those returning with babies born in the bush. They are discriminated against and touted as 'rebel wives' and their children labeled 'enemy babies' and this lack of community support forces them into prostitution as an economic survival for them and their children. International legal instruments such as the optional protocol on Convention on the Rights of the Child, and The African Charter on the Rights and the Welfare of the Child as well as the Ugandan Children's Act does not specifically address the roles of girl soldiers in armed conflict thus demobilization as well as integration efforts fail to address gender specific experiences of the girl child soldier.