Social Protection of Children Recruited in Iraq (Field Study in Anbar Governorate Camps)

Abstract

The study aimed to identify the effects of the widespread phenomenon of child recruitment and the motives contributing to the involvement of children in fighting and to research the possibility of achieving their protection during armed conflicts in Iraq. A questionnaire was applied to 150 families whose children participated in the fighting during the armed conflicts in the governorates of Iraq, where five focused questions were raised to find out the views of the participants in the phenomenon of child recruitment. The results have shown that one of the reasons for child recruitment is the influence of tribal traditions that encourage children to participate in hostilities and the recent wars in Iraq are among the most important motives for children's involvement in conflict, which is a violation of child rights.