DDR and the Education of Girl Ex-Combatants in Africa: A Gendered Analysis

Research output: Chapter/Conference proceedingChapterAcademic

139 Downloads (Pure)

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 languageEnglish
Title of host publicationThe Palgrave Handbook of African Women's Studies
EditorsOlajumoke Yacob-Haliso, Toyin Falola
PublisherPalgrave Macmillan
Number of pages18
ISBN (Electronic)978-3-319-77030-7
ISBN (Print)978-3-319-77030-7
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 6 Mar 2021
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'DDR and the Education of Girl Ex-Combatants in Africa: A Gendered Analysis'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this