Children living in countries at war have come under direct attack, have been used as human shields, killed, maimed or recruited to fight. Rape, forced marriage and abduction have become standard tactics in conflicts from Syria to Yemen, and from the Democratic Republic of the Congo to Nigeria, South Sudan and Myanmar.

The above was stated by UNICEF in December 2018 as they concluded that the world has failed to protect children in conflict. 

In 2019, the year we celebrate the 30th anniversary of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), the situation still remains the same for children affected by war and conflict. Children are always the ones who have the most to lose. Their childhood, their safety, their loved ones, and their lives, are all at stake. 

Recently, civilians in Kurdish controlled areas in Syria are being heavily affected by the Turkish invasion in Syria. These events add to the brutality and suffering children are subjected to when armed conflict and humanitarian crises emerge. 

In Greece’s Moria refugee camp, which only has capacity for 3000 people, there are currently living 13 500 people. As many as 1000 are unaccompanied minors, the highest figure since early 2016. The conditions are dire and the camp is described as a “place that can only compound psychological trauma, not soothe it.” Children lose all hope.

Al-Hol in the north-eastern part of Syria, holds almost 70 000 refugees, 55 % of them are under the age of five. Among them, are the children of ISIS-parents who left their home countries to fight for ISIS. These children are currently detained in refugee camps in Syria and Iraq. Some of them are orphans, others are detained together with their mothers. There is mounting evidence that many of the detained children are sick, malnourished, injured and traumatized. Many of the children are very young placing them in an extremely vulnerable position. 

These are just a few examples of the current global situation in which children are affected by war. 

We acknowledge that the issue is complex and that many legal, political and national security issues need to be addressed. However, the psychological and developmental harm that is currently being brought upon the children, are unquestionable. As psychologists we are obligated to speak up when fundamental human rights are being violated and when children are at risk. Though we wish to remain politically neutral as part of EFPA, this expert group wishes to acknowledge the likelihood of psycho-developmental harm affecting these vulnerable children should their needs not be fully considered.

Therefore, we urge the leaders of the world to take necessary actions to protect children in refugee camps and to respect and be compliant to the international humanitarian laws meant to protect civilians.

The Standing Committee would like to emphasise from our professional and ethical position as trauma psychologists’ that certain actions should be taken to safeguard the children’s current and future health and wellbeing. 

1. All violations against children must end and the CRC and humanitarian international law must be respected in times of war and conflict

2. Action must be taken to protect children currently living in refugee camps 

3. The children should be evacuated from the camps to a place of safety together with their primary caregivers. This stance is based on the following:

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