Project Title: Enhancing Child Agency: Bridging the Gap Between Institutional Standards & Soldier-Centric Child Protection in Peacekeeping Missions
Client: The Dallaire Centre of Excellence For Peace And Security
Students: Mahnan Omar, Raashi Dabola, Sarah Sam, and Aydan MacDougall
Faculty Lead: Hugh Gusterson
Fieldwork Location: Uruguay
Year: 2023-24
About the Project: This research examines how child protection operates in peacekeeping missions. It specifically focuses on topics such as the influence of gender roles on the responsibility for protecting children, as well as the moral and ethical dilemmas faced by soldiers when balancing UN child protection protocols with their country-specific mandates. This study aims to identify potential barriers and solutions for effective child protection. Additionally, it will investigate youth agency, with a specific emphasis on youth expectations and preferences regarding soldiers’ roles in situations of armed conflict, criminal warfare, and high-risk environments. This comprehensive approach aims to provide a nuanced understanding of the complexities of child protection, fostering gender-sensitive and youth-inclusive strategies in peacekeeping missions.