Going Home: Demobilising and Reintegrating Child Soldiers in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Summary

More than 1,200 child soldiers have been demobilised in the North and South Kivu Provinces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) since 1999. The process has been gradual but consistent. Lessons learned in this experience are especially important for working with child soldiers in situations of ongoing conflict and with non-state actors. Indeed one of the lessons is the importance of engaging non-state actors in tandem to work with the community. Save the Children has found its child protection training project with military officers and ‘community child protection networks’ to have an important impact.