Thesis Eva de Groot 930306-284-050 RECONCILIATION AND REINTEGRATION OF CHILD SOLDIERS IN NORTHERN UGANDA BSc International development Supervisor: Bram Jansen Chair group: Sociology of Development and Change ABSTRACT Child soldiering is still a major problem in many countries all over the world. Lots of research has been done about the reintegration of these children after they return from the army. During the reconciliation and reintegration processes of child soldiers different actors come to the fore, like international organisations, the government and the local communities, implementing their ideas in these programmes. This research focusses on the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) and their abduction of children in Northern Uganda, of the Acholi community. This research aims at enriching the knowledge about these different actors, their opinions about the reintegration and reconciliation process of child soldiers and the difficulties or clashes that occur between these actors. The reconciliation and reintegration in the local communities is mainly focused on culture and tradition. This is an important factor to take into account while implementing a programme in this area. It is also important for the different actors to keep this in mind when they have to work together for the reintegration of child soldiers. Furthermore acceptance of the community and the communication between the different actors; community, children, family and other institutions, is an important aspect for a smooth reintegration of children in their community. Keywords: child soldiers, northern Uganda, reconciliation, reintegration, rehabilitation, local, international. 2 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This thesis would not have been possible without the help of my supervisor, Bram Jansen. Furthermore many thanks goes out to my friends and family who were always there to read and helped me through the writing process and supported me through the process as a whole. It were intensive but enjoyable weeks where I have had a lot of academic and personal learning experiences. 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS Abstract .................................................................................................................................................................................. 2 Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................................................................... 3 Chapter 1: Introduction ................................................................................................................................................... 6 Problem statement ....................................................................................................................................................... 6 The case ........................................................................................................................................................................ 7 Research Questions ...................................................................................................................................................... 7 Relevance of this Research ........................................................................................................................................ 8 Social relevance ......................................................................................................................................................... 8 Scientific relevance .................................................................................................................................................. 8 Chapter 2: Theoretical Framework ......................................................................................................................... 10 Child soldier .................................................................................................................................................................. 10 Reconciliation .............................................................................................................................................................. 11 Reintegration ............................................................................................................................................................... 13 Legal pluralism ............................................................................................................................................................ 14 Overview ........................................................................................................................................................................ 15 Chapter 3: Northern Uganda and the LRA ............................................................................................................ 16 History ............................................................................................................................................................................ 16 Motivation ................................................................................................................................................................ 18 Young Children ....................................................................................................................................................... 19 Life of Child Soldiers ................................................................................................................................................. 20 Recruitment ............................................................................................................................................................. 20 Life in the Lord’s resistance army .................................................................................................................. 21 Return Home ........................................................................................................................................................... 22 Chapter 4: The Village of Origin ................................................................................................................................ 24 Reconciliation .............................................................................................................................................................. 24 Reintegration ............................................................................................................................................................... 27 Conclusion ..................................................................................................................................................................... 28 Chapter 5: International Law ..................................................................................................................................... 29 International Law concerning child soldiers .................................................................................................. 30 The Case of Sierra Leone ......................................................................................................................................... 31 The Case of Northern Uganda ............................................................................................................................... 32 Conclusion ..................................................................................................................................................................... 33 Chapter 6: International Support ............................................................................................................................. 35 NUREP ............................................................................................................................................................................. 36 IRC .................................................................................................................................................................................... 37 WVI ................................................................................................................................................................................... 38 4 GUSCO ............................................................................................................................................................................. 40 Conclusion ..................................................................................................................................................................... 41 Chapter 7: Conclusion ................................................................................................................................................... 43 References .......................................................................................................................................................................... 48 Appendices ........................................................................................................................................................................ 54 Appendix I ..................................................................................................................................................................... 54 5 CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION In the following chapter the problem statement, research questions and scientific and social relevance of this thesis will be explained. PROBLEM STATEMENT At a lot of places in this world child soldiers