Children affected by armed conflict edited by Laura Guercio and Paolina Massidda

Descrizione

The Report “Children Affected by Armed Conflict: An Updated Study on the Situation of Children in the World with focus in Conflict Zones”, edited by Laura Guercio and Paolina Massidda, offers a wide-ranging and updated analysis of how contemporary conflicts impacts the lives of children. It builds on a first edition published in 2024 by the Universities Network for Children in Armed Conflict and expands both the scope and depth of research, focusing particularly on Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. Through a combination of statistical evidence and qualitative accounts, the Report explores the recurring patterns of violence that mark children’s experiences in war: recruitment by armed forces, killing and maiming, sexual violence, abduction, attacks on schools and hospitals, and the denial of humanitarian
access.

The research adopts a mixed-methods approach, integrating quantitative data such as casualty figures, displacement statistics, and incidents of school closures with testimonies and case studies that capture the lived realities of children and families in conflict zones. This dual lens allows for a nuanced understanding of both large-scale trends and individual experiences. The editors highlight the difficulties inherent in collecting reliable information in such volatile contexts, noting the frequent under-reporting due to restricted access to conflict areas, and the fragmentation of data. Despite these challenges, the research underscores the crucial role of academia and international monitoring in providing rigorous evidence and translating it into
actionable policy recommendations.