In Burundi’s 15 year civil war, all parties deployed child soldiers as combatants and in support roles to military actions. In 2006, UNICEF demobilized some 3,000 child soldiers but only 50 females were identified.

That same year, Heartland Alliance conducted an assessment of child soldier protection services targeting females and found few services existed or were adequate to the specific challenges confronting girls. 

Jefferson Mok is Director of Heartland Alliance’s Great Lakes Region of Africa Project. He tells us about the program Heartland Alliance is currently implementing which provides comprehensive and rehabilitation services to female former child-soldiers.