Memorandum submitted by Plan UK
Children and Young People in Peace Building
and Post-Conflict Reconstruction in Sierra Leone
"Let us be the future nation builders and
positive leaders of Sierra Leone." Moses, aged 14.
"Come and work with the children, work
with the young people, because we are the future of Sierra Leone.
The future of this country lies on us." Abu Bakrr, aged 19.
SUMMARY
The Sierra Leone war will be remembered for
the central role played by children both as victims and perpetrators
of violence. Since 2002, children and young people have been important
contributors to the processes of peace building and post conflict
reconstruction. Children and young people are a significant proportion
of Sierra Leone's population—49% of the population is under
18 and approximately 55% of the population is aged 15-35. Life
expectancy is one of the lowest at 41 years. As such, their continued
and developing participation in the long-term development of their
country is key to maintaining peace in Sierra Leone. The UK Government
should continue its commitment for Sierra Leone and other post
conflict contexts by supporting a child and youth centred agenda
for development.
INTRODUCTION
1. Plan is an international child centred
development organisation committed to promoting the rights of
children worldwide. We operate in 46 of the world's poorest countries.
Our programme in Sierra Leone is one of our longest established
in Africa—Plan has worked there for 30 years. Plan UK welcomes
the opportunity to present evidence from the children of Sierra
Leone on peace building and post conflict reconstruction.
2. The Children's Forum Network is a Sierra
Leonean child led advocacy network, which was established in 2000.
The network works through schools and local children's clubs across
Sierra Leone advocating for and raising awareness of children's
rights. The Children's Forum Network has contributed to several
national consultations on post-conflict reconstruction, processes
for the reintegration of former child soldiers, the Sierra Leone
Truth and Reconciliation Commission and consultations on the development
of Sierra Leone's Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper.
3. This evidence was gathered at a three-day
workshop of the Children's Forum Network held in Freetown between
9 and 12 January 2006, organised and facilitated by Plan UK. Twenty
children took part in discussions leading to the evidence contained
herein.[111]
Included as supplementary evidence is a ten-minute film from the
children, a transcript of which is attached as an Appendix. (Copy
placed in the Library).
4. Children constitute an estimated 52%
of the population in developing countries. They can be both victims
and perpetrators in conflict. Plan believes that concentrating
on children and young people in peace building and post-conflict
development is an efficient and necessary strategy. The success
of calling for and abiding by ceasefires in the middle of conflicts
across the world in order to immunise children demonstrates the
possibilities of building consensus and group action around the
needs of children in conflict and post-conflict settings.
IMPACT OF
THE SIERRA
LEONE CIVIL
WAR ON
CHILDREN AND
YOUNG PEOPLE
5. The details of Sierra Leone's 10-year
civil war, which officially ended in January 2002, are well documented.
What is notable, however, is the involvement of children both
as perpetrators and victims of violence during the war. Soon after
the conflict started in 1991, it became evident that both the
rebel and government forces were recruiting children into their
ranks. Thousands of children were captured by rebel troops of
the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) to serve as soldiers, cooks,
porters and "wives" of the adult fighters. In the national
disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration (DDR) programme,
6845 child soldiers were demobilised.[112]
6. The war had an immense impact on the
children and young people of Sierra Leone. All of the children
involved in preparing this evidence witnessed war-related atrocities
firsthand. These included shootings, amputations and mutilation,
physical and sexual abuse of women, and destruction of property.
Some were themselves captured by RUF troops. All experienced disruption
of their education, some for several years at a time, as large
numbers of Sierra Leoneans fled their homes.
7. "[During the war], we young people
were used and abused by adults…which affected young people
psychologically, socially and physically. Psychologically, young
people witnessed negative things. They are now unable to move
on from what happened and always remember the terrible things
that happened during the war. [The war] stopped many young people's
education and so many young people lost the people who usually
take care of their education [like their parents]. Physically,
young people were used during the war [as soldiers]. Socially,
the war made young people lose many of their close friends."[113]
8. Sierra Leone's Truth and Reconciliation
Commission, which concluded in June 2004, and the Special Court,
which is currently hearing evidence, were important processes
for national healing and conflict resolution. Children played
an important role in national healing processes in the immediate
aftermath of the war. They were invited to give evidence in the
Truth and Reconciliation Commission and a child-friendly version
of the document has been produced.
BUILDING PEACE
AND SECURITY
IN SIERRA
LEONE
9. Sierra Leone is one of the least developed
countries in the world according to all indicators and is ranked
176 out of 177 countries—only Niger is ranked lower—in
the UN's Human Development Index.[114]
Concerns remain both inside and outside of Sierra Leone for the
country's long-term security and lasting peace. "Today, while
humanitarian relief has alleviated the most suffering, many of
the causes the civil war are still evident eg poverty, corruption,
poor governance, injustice."[115]
The Children's Forum Network expressed a strong sense that peace
and security may not be maintained under such conditions and the
children spoke of living with a daily fear of a return to the
instability of war.
10. It is clear that without increased investment
in conflict prevention, countries like Sierra Leone will not make
the rapid acceleration in development that its people seek. Investing
in development is itself an investment in peace and security,
but there is much more that should be done directly to strengthen
conflict prevention.[116]
There was a strong desire from the Children's Forum Network to
see greater action to prevent the re-emergence of violent conflict
in Sierra Leone, including direct investment in the needs of young
people and in their continued empowerment.
11. As Sierra Leone moves beyond the immediate
post conflict period, a key concern of the Children's Forum Network
is that long-term and predictable donor support does not end.
They welcomed the fact the UK government has worked to commit
to this kind of support, providing £120 million in direct
budget and other support over a three-year period 2004 to 2006.
This follows a three-year commitment of £104 million from
2001 to 2003.[117]
POST-CONFLICT
RECONSTRUCTION AND
POVERTY REDUCTION
12. The Children's Forum Network was concerned
that Sierra Leone as a nation needs to move on and away from the
war. The children were in agreement that the Truth and Reconciliation
Commission was an important contribution to this process. They
also welcomed their involvement in and the focus on children and
young people's priorities in Sierra Leone's first Poverty Reduction
Strategy Paper, published in May 2005. The Children's Forum Network
successfully lobbied for a Children's Act, which enshrines the
principles and rights of the UN Convention on the Rights of the
Child, and is now keen for Sierra Leone's Children's Act to be
given Presidential Assent.
13. The Children's Forum Network identified
three areas that they would like the Sierra Leonean government,
civil society and communities, and donor governments to focus
their attention on.
Youth Employment and Empowerment
14. Through the work of the Children's Forum
Network itself, the voices of children have remained part of recent
national processes in Sierra Leone's post conflict era, leading
to important commitments such as the Children's Act. However,
a major concern cited by the children is the growing disenfranchisement
of young people—officially defined as people aged 15 to
35.[118]
It is estimated that 55% of the population is between 15 and 35
years old.[119]
Life expectancy is low at 41 years.[120]
The most recent official data available stated that young adults
aged 15-24 are among the poorest of the poor.[121]
Although the Sierra Leonean government recently revised its National
Youth Policy, there has been little obvious investment in this
majority of the Sierra Leonean population.
15. Internal displacement in Sierra Leone
during the civil war has meant large numbers of young people living
in Freetown and other urban centres. There are concerns about
low employment rates, a lack of training and education opportunities
for young people, and some evidence of the continued attractiveness
of joining fighting forces across the West Africa region. The
Children's Forum Network recognised the impact this is having
on the esteem and ultimately the opportunities available to young
people in Sierra Leone.[122]
The children and young people involved in the workshop consistently
recommended that job creation, and investment in training and
education become a clear priority for government, civil society
and non-governmental organisations.[123]
Good Governance
16. "Without justice, there will be
no peace." Bamine, aged 16. As a country emerging from war,
trust in politicians, political structures and the justice system
remains low in Sierra Leone. Corruption is widespread at all levels.
The Children's Forum Network discussed ways of tackling corruption
and a system of good governance. They support anti-corruption
measures, and stress that these should not only remain independent
of government but should include representation of young people.
17. The Children's Forum Network is clear
that through children and particularly young people's active participation
as citizens, models of good governance and leadership can be developed.
As such, they are keen to see the Children's Act receive Presidential
Assent. Through building local constituencies of children and
young people aware of their rights and of their responsibilities
as citizens and future leaders, models of good governance can
be developed through to national level.
18. In Plan's experience, children and young
people are playing an increasingly active role in governance at
all levels around the world. These range from Children's Parliaments
to local children's clubs with an active advocacy agenda to the
model of Child-Friendly Barangays/Villages in the Philippines,
where children's needs and rights are central to village level
planning and development. As a result, children have also become
part of regional and national level structures in the Philippines.
As children will themselves go on to become political leaders
and citizens, support is essential for developing good governance
models with children, particularly through local government and
particularly in Africa, a continent where 50.8% of the population
is aged under 18.[124]
Education and Basic Services
19. Although the Sierra Leonean government
abolished primary school fees in 1999, an estimated 375,000 children
of primary school age are not in school. In 2001, the government
waived national examination fees and basic education was made
compulsory in 2003. However, 30% of the population remains illiterate.
Enrolment rates and retention of girls in schools lags behind
boys, especially in secondary schools.[125]
20. The Children's Forum Network recognised
and acknowledged efforts being made to expand formal, particularly
primary education, in Sierra Leone. However, the children were
increasingly concerned about the quality of the education they
and their counterparts are receiving. Primary school enrolment
has increased to over one million,[126]
but has resulted in a system unable to cope. The children were
keen to point out that teacher motivation and skill levels are
low because of poor salaries, intermittent receipt of salaries,
and lack of training.
21. They recommend that investment in teaching
staff be a clear priority. The abolition of school fees should
be extended to secondary schools and additional support is needed
for girls, particularly in Northern Sierra Leone. The daily struggle
of their guardians to find the hidden costs of sending children
to school was also highlighted.[127]
A package of social protection measures for the most vulnerable
could include support towards these hidden costs[128]
22. Investment so far has been clearly in
the formal education sector. The Children's Forum Network identified
the need for street children, orphans and other vulnerable children
to have access to informal education. Children and young people
who have completed primary education and are unable to continue
in the formal sector, require access to vocational training and
informal learning.
23. The Children's Forum Network identified
key basic services requiring increased investment—health
care provision, and water and sanitation. There is a particular
need for investment in basic health care provision in rural areas,
and in maternal and child health. They were concerned about potential
impact of HIV and AIDS and discussed the need for greater awareness
and prevention measures in Sierra Leone. HIV and AIDS emerged
as a key factor in growing violent crime and susceptibility to
joining rebel movements in Sierra Leone,[129]
although figures on national infection rates are unclear at present.
Child and Youth Centred Development
24. Poverty has a particular and immediate
effect on children. Long-term poverty reduction itself begins
with children.[130]
The Sierra Leone Government produced its first Poverty Reduction
Strategy Paper (PRSP) in 2005.[131]
Children contributed to the consultation process towards the development
of the PRSP. There is general agreement that the perspectives,
input and involvement of children and young people in processes
like the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, the Disarmament,
Demobilisation and Reintegration programme and development of
the PRSP in Sierra Leone was important and necessary.
25. A child and youth centred agenda for
Sierra Leone's development is a real opportunity for the Sierra
Leonean government and donor governments, such as the UK, to follow
through on the involvement of and commitments made to children
in Sierra Leone over the past five years. Such an agenda is the
only way to fully engage Sierra Leone's youth and thus ensure
a better chance of building peace and a sustainable development
programme.
26. Such an agenda should include:
— national budget allocation and tracking
for children and young people's needs;
— increased investment in basic services
particularly education, health, and water and sanitation;
— investment in opportunities for young
people including training, education and employment;
— creation of both formal and informal
spaces for children and young people to be consulted and involved
in decision-making; and
— a social protection package for the
most vulnerable including child-headed households, street children
and those made homeless during the war.
RECOMMENDATIONS
The Children's Forum Network makes the following
recommendations to the UK Government:
27. The UK Government should ensure that
its policy[132]
to support post-conflict reconstruction includes a focus on youth
employment and empowerment within a wider poverty reduction framework.
This is particularly important in the context of the African continent.
Evidence from Sierra Leone demonstrates the importance of engaging
with and supporting this important demographic.
28. The UK Government should make a clear
policy commitment to develop a framework for supporting the most
vulnerable through social protection packages in post-conflict
settings.
29. The UK Government should use its influence
to ensure that young people are engaged in anti-corruption processes
in Sierra Leone, to which it has already provided support.
30. DFID should support children's key priorities
in Sierra Leone—youth employment, strengthening civil society
in order to hold government accountable and a social protection
package.
31. The UK Government should support the
Sierra Leonean Government to:
— develop a child and youth centred
agenda for development out of its PRSP;
— provide free, high quality education
and vocational training by investing in training, teaching material
and the (re)construction of schools and vocational training centres;
— develop employment opportunities
with a particular focus on young people, invest in and encourage
new industries and the agricultural sector, and create investment
links with the Sierra Leonean Diaspora in the UK;[133]
and
— invest in basic healthcare provision,
particularly in rural areas.
The Children's Forum Network makes the following
recommendations to the International Development Select Committee:
1. The International Development Select
Committee should meet with a delegation from the Children's Forum
Network when Committee members visit Freetown.
2. The International Development Select
Committee should enquire of its Parliamentary counterparts in
Sierra Leone of progress towards Presidential Assent of the Children's
Act.
January 2006
111 The workshop's participants were: Rosaline (16),
Henry (16), Christiana (17), Joseph (17), Josephine (12), Janet
(13), John (11), Ishmael (8), Easterline (12), Ibrahim (16), Bamine
(16), Charles (17), Moses (13), Aminata (12), Dennis (17), (Desmond
(11), Isata (10), Fatmata (8), Mohamed (18), Elkanah (17). The
workshop was facilitated by Abu Bakr Messeh (19). Back
112
UNICEF, 2004, Post Conflict Sierra Leone: An Analytical review
of the Situation of Children and UNICEF's Response. Back
113
The words of Josephine, aged 12, during Children and Young People
in Peace Building and Post Conflict Reconstruction in Sierra Leone
workshop, Freetown, January 2006. Back
114
UNDP, 2004, Human Development Index. Back
115
DFID, 2004, Supporting Security, Justice, and Development. Back
116
Commission for Africa, 2004, Our Common Interest: Report
of the Commission for Africa. Back
117
DFID, 2004, Country Assistance Plan: Sierra Leone. Back
118
Government of Sierra Leone, 2004, National Youth Policy. Back
119
UNICEF, 2004, Ibid. Back
120
UNICEF, 2005, State of the World's Children 2006. Back
121
Government of Sierra Leone, 2004. Ibid. Back
122
Young men are largely labelled as "yootman", a negative
term meaning an unemployed young man who engages in illegal activities
such as drug selling and robbery to survive. Back
123
The Sierra Leonean Government's current youth policy states
the following as priorities: job creation opportunities; skills
training; information and sensitisation; community development
projects; Presidential Award for Excellence and youth consultation
and participation. Back
124
UNICEF, 2005, Ibid. Back
125
UNICEF, 2004, Ibid. Back
126
UNICEF, 2004, Ibid. Back
127
These costs include uniforms, school material, ad hoc
fees to teachers and meals. Back
128
Plan UK, 2005, Towards Ending Child Poverty: Social Protection
Measures. Back
129
Prime Minister's Strategy Unit Background Paper, 2005, Countries
at Risk of Instability: Future Risks of Instability. Back
130
UNICEF, 2000, Poverty Reduction Begins with Children. Back
131
Government of Sierra Leone, 2005, Sierra Leone Poverty Reduction
Strategy Paper. Back
132
DFID, 2005, Fighting Poverty to Build a Safer World: A Strategy
for Security and Development. Back
133
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office estimates that over 60,000
Sierra Leoneans live in the UK. Back
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