2023

The National Action Plans on UNSCR1325 and the impact of armed conflicts on boys and girls: a study and analysis of the International Universities Network

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co-funded by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

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Introduction

This proposal, presented by the Institute of Political Studies "S. Pio V” in collaboration with the Universities Network for Children in Armed Conflict, aims to carry out a qualitative and quantitative study / analysis of situations of violence against boys and girls in areas of armed conflict. For this purpose, the proponents will work with the involvement of all the Universities of the Network which will give their support for the organization of different work teams divided by regional areas, specifically Africa (DRC, Central African Republic, Mali, South Sudan, Somalia and Mozambique), Asia (Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Myanmar), South America (Colombia), Eastern Europe (Kosovo and Ukraine).The various Regional Teams will carry out the research under the direction of a Team Regional Leader (TRL), who will be the contact person for the research activity of their area, and of several researchers who will carry out the research.Each TRL will periodically report the progress of the research activity to the Central Scientific Committee (CSC). The CSC will be formed by a group of professors and representatives of international organizations and agencies, selected by the scientific committee of the Universities Network together with the San Pio V.The Network is delighted to discuss and share the following project proposal in its operational aspects with the European Union Office of the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General on Children and Armed Conflict. 

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The project

The project aims to carry out a qualitative and quantitative research, by geographical area, of the serious violations against girls and boys in conflict situations, based on which it will be developed a final report. Specific Guidelines, drafted by the Scientific Committee of the project, will be provided to the Teams for conducting the research.The Network, also thanks to continuous dialogue with the European Union Office of the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflicts, intends to develop this research proposal whose peculiarity is that it will allow the Team to identify, alongside the relative quantitative elements to the phenomenon of children in armed conflict, also the analysis of the social, normative and cultural reasons that may be at the basis of the violence analyzed. In this way, the goal is to build a scientific framework aimed at understanding which are the aspects on which more actions are needed at the national and international level in order to avoid the perpetration of those socio-legal conditions that contribute to the perpetration of violence against minors, especially girls. In this way, the present proposal aims to meet and achieve the objectives of the IV Italian Action Plan in accordance with Resolution 1325. The research activity, in addition to being the basis of a Final Report, will be disseminated through the creation of a specific Virtual Map and a short video capable of communicating the results in a visually appealing way, with the aim of reaching a wider audience. It will be also organized a photographic exhibition on the condition of children living in armed conflict which will be exposed during the conferences.Alongside the research activity we want to organize a series of conferences / webinars on the condition of boys and girls in armed conflicts with a focus on the comparison between the Italian Action Plan and the National Action Plan of the country where the conference will be held.The project also intends to create an Autumn School on "Judicial and social aspects of violence against children, particularly girls, in armed conflict" consisting of a three-week training course aimed at students in which the specific aspects of the research and a specific focus will be dedicated to the importance of international criminal justice against serious crimes perpetrated against children in armed conflict.

CLICK HERE FOR THE VIRTUAL MAP WEBSITE

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2022

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Analysis and study of the impact of armed conflicts on boys and girls in the Middle East: proposals for implementing their role as agents of change to realise peaceful and inclusive societies.

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co-funded by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

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Introduction

This project proposal, presented by the Institute of Political Studies “S. Pio V" in collaboration with the Universities Network for Children in Armed Conflict (see partner profile), launched with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2020, aims to carry out a qualitative and quantitative study/analysis of situations of violence against boys and girls in areas of armed conflict: in particular in those areas of the Middle East where fragility and internal instability have become even more accentuated in the light of the most recent geopolitical events, including the Afghan crisis which, even indirectly, had effects on neighbouring countries and by the severe repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic, the effects of which will have to be faced from multiple points of view in the years to come.

 

The project

The project aims at carrying out qualitative and quantitative research on the grave violations against children in situations of armed conflict in some countries of the Middle East (Iraq, Syria and Yemen). Based on this research, a Final Report will then be produced containing the study results and the proposals for intervention. This report will be disseminated to all the national and international offices competent in the sector.

The Network, also through continuous contacts with the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations for Children and Armed Conflicts, has developed this research proposal whose peculiarity is that of allowing to identify, alongside the relative quantitative elements to the phenomenon of children in armed conflict. Also, the analysis of the social, normative and cultural motivations can be the basis of the violence analysed. The objective is to build a scientific framework aimed at understanding which are the aspects on which it is necessary to intervene more at a national and international level to avoid the perpetuation of those socio-juridical conditions which generate a fertile ground which nourish actions which constitute a threat to stability, security and the protection of human rights (particularly of children) in the fragile countries being analysed.

In consideration of the importance of involving young people alongside the research activity, we want to carry out a series of conferences/webinars on the condition of children in armed conflicts, involving international students with whom the Network has already started concrete activities through the creation of "like-minded CAAC champions" and "like-minded WPS champions" groups coordinated by academics and members of the Network.

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