| The use of child soldiers is one of the most universally condemned human rights abuses in the world, yet an estimated 300,000 children are currently believed to be fighting in over 30 conflicts around the globe. Due to their relative naivete and malleability, children are forced to play numerous roles as child soldiers including that of porters, cooks, fighters on the front line and sex slaves. While many of these children die before they are released others escape, are rescued or are returned by their captors. These children then face the daunting task of reintegrating into society. Despite the broad nature of the issue, and its huge individual and societal impacts, relatively little is known about child soldiers, their time in service and their experience of reintegration. What little research is available focuses almost exclusively on male child soldiers. Despite this, female child soldiers make up an estimate 30% of all child soldiers and, due to their gender specific experiences, often face greater challenges in reintegration. Drawing from a data set from northern Uganda, this paper explores the roles of female child soldiers in the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), and how their experiences while with the LRA and upon return to society affect their reintegration experience. Ultimately, this paper finds that specific war-time experiences greatly affect reintegration and that the provision of appropriate programs and support upon return can positively impact a girl's reintegration experience. |
