Breaking the Cycle of Armed Conflicts by Prioritizing Children's Mental Health in Peacebuilding Strategies

In our world, marked by brutal armed conflicts that affect nearly two billion souls, including 468 million children, I see an oversight persisting in our approach to building peace.

As someone who just recently left the private sector (after an incredible phase spent in the most inspiring and energizing team in Zurich that works with incredible minds globally in the AI ecosystem ????) and deeply entrenched in the realms of Development and Diplomacy, I've come to recognize that safeguarding and nurturing the mental well-being of children in conflict zones is not merely a moral imperative but a strategic necessity to halt the vicious cycles of violence that undermine our global stability.

Historically, the discourse surrounding peacebuilding has predominantly focused on political, economic, and security dimensions, often sidelining the psychological aftermath endured by the most vulnerable. I perceive this not just a humanitarian failure but a strategic misstep.

Children raised in conflict zones represent the next generation of leaders, thinkers, and influencers. However – based also on my studies in criminal psychology – emerging from a backdrop of trauma and harsh conditions, their perspectives and actions are likely to be profoundly shaped by their early experiences. Without intervention, societies tainted by trauma are prone to repeat cycles of violence.

Nearly three decades have passed since Gra?a Machel's landmark report to the UN General Assembly, which shed light on the multifaceted atrocities children face in armed conflicts. This (already back then, 28 years ago!) included a clarion call for the integration of psychological recovery and social reintegration efforts into the broader agenda of protecting children affected by warfare. Yet, despite significant advancements, including the establishment of the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Children and Armed Conflict, we're still witnessing a distressing rise in grave violations against children in conflict zones.

From my perspective, the heart of the issue lies in the integration—or, more accurately, the lack thereof—of children's mental health care in peacebuilding strategies. This gap for me not only undermines the recovery and development of individuals and societies post-conflict but also overlooks a critical lever for preventing the recurrence of violence. Armed conflicts wreak havoc on children's mental and emotional well-being, with consequences that ripple through societies, hindering both individual and collective healing and development.

Approved by the United Nations-mandated University of Peace (you should see the happiness on my face right now ??), in the next 1.5 years I will undertake a Master’s research that focuses on the intersection between children's mental health care and peacebuilding efforts, and how the unification of these two seemingly distant domains could lay the foundation for weakening and eventually breaking the cycles of armed conflict.

I spent sleepless nights in the last months to find the focus of my research. I was challenged numerous times that my topic was too broad and lacked depth. Well, as I see it however, I believe that first we need to be able to see the full picture and the interrelations to be able to go deep and find the root causes of our issues that can lead to sustainable solutions. I believe in the power of breadth and depth.

The people who know me also know how important time and meaningful purpose are for me. I wanted to make sure that I spend the next 1.5 years researching a topic that doesn’t only give me purpose, but hopefully also results that can become part of something big that I never even dared dreaming. Actively looking for the next milestone in my career, I also believe that this research could pave my path into the field where I feel I belong. ??

I spoke to experts at the UN, the Swiss Government, journalists, and organizations that are focused on leadership, collaboration, and peacebuilding to confirm that my idea is legitimate. The reassuring feedback as well as the green light from my University gave me the courage to bring this also to my network here on LinkedIn.

Call me an idealist. But a rational idealist. ?? I believe that my proposed approach to a more peaceful world is not born from naivety but from a pragmatic recognition of the interconnectedness of mental well-being, social and economic development and stability on the whole. I truly believe in the possibility of a less violent world, but I also recognize the immense challenges that lie ahead. This journey will take time (generations), dedication (persistent), belief (rational) and collaboration across domains (unprecedented).

Thank you for the inspirational and thought-provoking discussions, Bo Percival Dimitrios Kalogeropoulos, PhD No?mi Fivat Helene Aecherli Peter Cunningham Paul Ladd Chad Osorio Walter Werzowa Andreas Staub Raphael Pangalangan Amr Mustapha Adrienn ábrahám ??????. Looking forward to even more exchanges with Samira Asma Thomas Davin Irakli Beridze Alisha Arora Artem Sergeev ????

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Sources used:

Ford, J., D; , Greene, C., A. (2017). Psychological and Biological Theories of Child and Adolescent Traumatic Stress Disorders. Retrieved from Springer Link: https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-319-46138-0_5

Machel, G. (1996). Impact of Armed Conflict on Children. Report of the expert of the Secretary-General, Ms. Gra?a Machel, submitted pursuant to General Assembly resolution 48/157. Retrieved from United Nations: https://www.onlinelibrary.iihl.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Machel-Report-Impact-Armed-Conflict-Children-EN.pdf

Muller H. and Tobias J. (2016) The cost of violence: Estimating the economic impact of conflict. Retrieved from International Growth Centre: https://www.theigc.org/sites/default/files/2016/12/IGCJ5023_Economic_Cost_of_Conflict_Brief_2211_v7_WEB.pdf

Murthy, R., S.; and Lakshminarayana, R, (2006). Mental health consequences of war: a brief review of research findings. World Psychiatry. 006 Feb 5(1):25-30. Retrieved from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1472271/

Save the Children, (2023). 468 Million children live in conflict zones, new figures from Save the Children reveals. Retrieved from Save the Children: https://www.savethechildren.org.uk/news/media-centre/press-releases/new-figures-millions-of-children-live-in-conflict-zones

Shenoda, S., Kadir, A., Pitterman, S., and Goldhagen, J. (2018). The Effects of Armed Conflict on Children. Pediatrics. Retrieved from SciHub Research Database: https://sci-hub.se/10.1542/peds.2018-2585

United Nations (2023). With Highest Number of Violent Conflicts Since Second World War, United Nations Must Rethink Efforts to Achieve, Sustain Peace, Speakers Tell Security Council. Retrieved from UN Meetings Coverage and Press Releases: https://press.un.org/en/2023/sc15184.doc.htm

United Nations, 2023. With Highest Number of Violent Conflicts Since Second World War, United Nations Must Rethink Efforts to Achieve, Sustain Peace, Speakers Tell Security Council. Retrieved from Retrieved from UN Meetings Coverage and Press Releases: https://press.un.org/en/2023/sc15184.doc.htm

Vigne, J.; Cocco, K. (2022) 25 Years of Children and Armed Conflict: Taking Action to Protect Children in War. Publisher: UNICEF. Retrieved from UNICEF: https://www.unicef.org/media/123021/file/25%20Years%20Children%20in%20Armed%20Conflict.pdf

War Childhood Museum, 2024. Children and Armed Conflict: Legal Framework. Retrieved from SciHub Research Database: https://warchildhood.org/children-and-armed-conflict-legal-framework/

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