Article

Youth development, reintegration, reconciliation and rehabilitation in post-conflict West Africa: A framework for Sierra Leone, Liberia and Cote d’Ivoire

Dabesaki Mac-Ikemenjima

Independent Consultant: Youth Development and HIV Prevention. E-mail: dabesaki@gmail.com.

Accepted 3 September 2008

   Introduction

Youth face distinct risks in situation of armed conflict and post-conflict. They are more likely to be recruited into fighting forces; become targets for sexual violence; need and lack reproductive health care, contract sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including HIV; head households; be forced to generate livelihood for themselves and others; and miss out on education opportunities. [Guide for the Implementation of the World Programme of Action for Youth. UNDESA: New York, 2007] Young people are susceptible to being used as perpetrators of conflicts and civil disorders, yet they remain the most vulnerable and the most affected in post conflict communities. However, young people are also the greatest resource to achieving reconciliation and reconstruction. This is because of the obvious reasons of their innovation, energy, enthusiasm and exuberance. It is therefore imperative to massively invest in youth development in post conflict settings in order to prevent reoccurrence of crisis and to ensure that their energies are channelled towards sustainable development. Wars in Africa are responsible for many deaths and injuries as well as for the displacement of many thousands of people. [African Union: The Status of Youth in Africa. Addis Ababa (2006)]. In 2002 it was estimated that wars were responsible for 310,000 deaths worldwide of which 53% occurred in Africa. While the causes of these conflicts remain largely unaddressed, their perpetrators capitalize on the energy, resourcefulness, enthusiasm and innovation of the youth to achieve their personal aims. 86% of the 1.76 billion young people aged 15 - 24 are in developing countries and it is estimated that 19% of these are in Africa in 2005. 60.7% million of these young people live on less than $1 US a day and 102.1 million live on less than $2US a day. In an environment of high rates of unemployment and rapid urbanisation, these youth are at significant risk for civil conflict.