STRIVE Juvenile: Preventing and responding to violence against children by terrorist and violent extremist groups

Context

In recent years, the number of children recruited and exploited by terrorist and violent extremist groups has notably increased. Reports indicate that there are thousands of children abducted, recruited, used, or otherwise associated with terrorist and violent extremist groups. There is no single path to recruitment, but once associated with these groups, they are often victims of extreme violence and may be exploited to perpetrate acts of violence against civilians or in the context of military action. The EU launched STRIVE Juvenile in cooperation with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), aiming at disrupting terrorist groups’ recruitment of children and promoting the rehabilitation and reintegration of children who have been associated with these groups into society, with a focus on Indonesia, Iraq and Nigeria.

Overall objective

The STRIVE Juvenile project aims to contribute to preventing and countering violent extremism affecting children in full respect of human rights, gender equality and international law.

Specific objectives

• To improve government strategies, policies and mechanisms related to child recruitment and exploitation by terrorist groups in Indonesia, Iraq and Nigeria.
• To increase resilience of vulnerable children against terrorist groups agendas in Indonesia, Iraq and Nigeria.

Concrete activities

• Collection and analysis of new evidence on child association and exit from terrorist groups.
• Elaboration of legal and policy guidance and operational recommendations for implementation.
• Delivery of capacity building activities for multi-sectoral professionals.
• Direct work with children and communities to promote the prevention of child association with terrorist groups and the rehabilitation and reintegration of those affected.

Results

• Enhanced global awareness over the phenomenon of child recruitment and exploitation.
• Strengthened legal and policy framework to prevent and respond to child recruitment and exploitation by terrorist groups in Indonesia, Iraq, and Nigeria.
• Increased capacity of professionals on strategies and measures to prevent and respond to child recruitment and exploitation by terrorist groups.
• Children are better equipped to resist attempts at recruitment, and/or better equipped to re-integrate into society following their association with such groups, including through the promotion of multi-stakeholder approaches.

Achievements

• Conducted an innovative research study Targeted by Terrorists: Child recruitment, exploitation and reintegration in Indonesia, Iraq and Nigeria.
• Inspired international policy instruments: Treatment of children associated with terrorist groups, including children who are recruited and exploited by those groups (submitted by Indonesia and adopted by the Economic and Social Council on 23 July, 2024) and Preventing and countering violence against children by organized criminal groups and terrorist groups in the field of crime prevention and criminal justice (adopted by the General Assembly on 17 December, 2024)
• Developed the Nigeria Call for Action, a political declaration that recognizes the priority of protecting children from the threats associated with terrorism, prevention, rehabilitation and reintegration as key priorities, along with the complementarity of security and child rights in any efforts to tackle this issue;
• Gained multi-sectoral consensus on Coordination Mechanisms on Child Protection for Child Victims of Terrorism Networks in Indonesia; and launched a National Roadmap to Support the Rehabilitation and Reintegration of Juvenile Detainees Previously Associated with Terrorist Groups in Iraq. Twenty further guidance notes and tools have additionally been produced (Indonesia 4, Iraq 3, Nigeria 13).
• Strengthened the capacities and skills of more than 1000 professionals - from law enforcement, correctional institutions, judiciary, security sector, child protection, social affairs, administrative authorities and civil society organisations.
• In Nigeria, identified, trained and mentored 32 Youth Peace Champions to support outreach activities in affected communities, fostering a culture of dialogue and peace. Conducted awareness raising activities among affected children and communities include a youth-led radio and social media campaign that has reached over 100 million in the conflict-affected North-East.
• In Indonesia, partnered with a youth-led CSO to work with 17 schools, train 46 counsellors, and reach over 15,000 children with activities aimed at enhancing resilience against terrorist propaganda.
• In Iraq, improved treatment and living conditions for children deprived of their liberty as a pre-requisite to their rehabilitation and reintegration. 3199 children and young people now have improved access to education and marketable vocational skills training; health-care, freedom to practice religion; and regular and safe contact with families and with the wider community.
• The mid-term independent in-depth evaluation found that STRIVE Juvenile is ‘well-aligned to the priorities of national duty bearers and rights-holders including victims of child recruitment and exploitation by terrorist groups; makes efficient use of resources; is effective in championing a child rights-based approach to preventing and countering terrorism; and has the potential to effect long-lasting change.