Abstract
Previous studies on girls in conflict and post-conflict peacebuilding have focused on gender-based violence and how disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration (DDR) programs have underserved girls, while little emphasis has been placed on the education of former girl soldiers. The effect of this neglect is the lack of policy which establishes the rights of the girl-child to education in the post-conflict peacebuilding era in African countries. To address this anomaly in the field of conflict and peacebuilding, this chapter examines how education programs have been used in the reintegration of ex-combatant girls during DDR processes in Africa. This is particularly important because such programs have differing implications for males and females. The chapter argues that while few girls compared to boys benefit from the education programs during the DDR in Africa, there is the issue of long-term sustainability regarding these programs which equally raise the question of effectiveness. This chapter concludes that education programs provided are not targeted at the long-term survival of these girls in the postwar economy. Thus, it is recommended that policymakers and DDR stakeholders take into consideration the sustainability of education programs among other issues highlighted in this chapter when planning and implementing future DDR programs.
Original language | English |
---|---|
Title of host publication | The Palgrave Handbook of African Women's Studies |
Editors | Olajumoke Yacob-Haliso, Toyin Falola |
Publisher | Palgrave Macmillan |
Number of pages | 18 |
ISBN (Electronic) | 978-3-319-77030-7 |
ISBN (Print) | 978-3-319-77030-7 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 6 Mar 2021 |
Externally published | Yes |