Interventions to support the mental health of survivors of modern slavery and human trafficking: A systematic review

Background: Modern slavery is a term which incorporates a range of exploitative situations that involve the violation of human rights and the subjugation of individuals. It presents a significant public health concern. Post-release, survivors of modern slavery have complex mental health needs. Whilst mental health provision is a component of international and national policy, the delivery of evidence-based support remains a gap in the global anti-slavery response. Aim: To identify and synthesise the evidence base for mental health interventions developed and evaluated for use in a post-slavery survivor population. Methods: A systematic literature review was undertaken. The review protocol was prospectively registered with PROSPERO and followed the PRISMA guidance in its reporting. A multi-stage search strategy was utilised to retrieve studies. Quality appraisal was undertaken using the QualSyst tool. Due to heterogeneity in study design, a narrative approach to synthesising the findings was undertaken. Results: Nine studies met the final inclusion criteria. The narrative synthesis clustered the studies in three themes: study design and population; type of intervention; and outcomes reported. The included studies focussed on specific subpopulations, namely child soldiering, child labour or sex trafficking. Conclusion: This review has highlighted not only important theory-practice gaps in relation to the provision of evidence-based mental health support but scant evidence limited to specific sub-groups (child soldiering, child labour or sex trafficking). The emphasis placed on PTSD within the interventions tested risks mental health support becoming exclusionary to those with other needs. When assessing intervention efficacy, the complex socio-political context in which survivors exist as well as the increasing emphasis on holistic care, personal recovery and lived experience need to be considered. Taking this into account, the case can be made for the inclusion of a wider range of non-clinical outcomes in the assessment of mental health intervention effectiveness.

Efektivitas Program No Lost Generation UNICEF dalam Menangani Kasus Child Soldiering di Konflik Suriah Tahun 2011-2018

<p><em>United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) adalah organisasi internasional bekerja di 191 negara yang berfokus pada penegakan dan perlindungan hak-hak anak. UNICEF melalui program </em><em>No Lost Generation Initiative </em><em>yang bertujuan untuk menyelamatkan tentara anak dan melindungi keselamatan anak di Suriah. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui tingkat efektivitas dalam pencapaian program bantuan yang diberikan oleh UNICEF melalui program No Lost Generation (NLG). Melalui metode deskriptif dengan pendekatan kualitatif, sumber data dalam tulisan ini berasal dari studi pustaka dengan telaah buku, jurnal ilmiah, laporan, serta artikel dari sumber terpercaya. Penelitian ditelusuri dengan menggunakan teori efektivitas organisasi yang dikemukakan oleh </em><em>S.P. Siagian</em><em> yang selaras dengan tujuan penelitian untuk menganalisis efektivitas suatu program organisasi internasional. Penulis menemukan bahwa program UNICEF No Lost Generation tahun 2011-2018 telah efektif dalam membantu aktor pemerintah untuk memenuhi, menegakkan, dan melindungi hak-hak anak di Suriah melalui enam indikator, yaitu </em><em>adanya kepastian tujuan NLG yang hendak dicapai, NLG memiliki kepastian strategi, proses analisis dan perumusan kebijakan NLG yang baik, penyusunan NLG yang matang, tersedianya sarana dan prasarana yang memadai, sistem monitoring dan pengelolaan dalam implementasi NLG yang baik.</em></p><p><strong><em>Kata kunci</em></strong><em>: No Lost Generation, </em><em>UNICEF, Tentara Anak di Suriah</em></p>

The Human Capital Peace Dividend

While the literature has documented negative effects of conflict on educational outcomes, there is little evidence on the effect of conflict termination. We show how the permanent ceasefire declared by FARC’s insurgency during peace negotiations with the Colombian government caused a differential improvement on several educational outcomes in the areas affected by FARC violence prior to the ceasefire. This effect is not explained by peacebuilding and post-war recovery investments, and they are only partially driven by wartime child soldiering. Instead, we find support for other mechanisms such as the post-ceasefire plummeting of victimization and new economic opportunities in treated areas.

The Human Capital Peace Dividend

While the literature has documented negative effects of conflict on educational outcomes, there is little evidence on the effect of conflict termination. We show how the permanent ceasefire declared by FARC’s insurgency during peace negotiations with the Colombian government caused a differential improvement on several educational outcomes in the areas affected by FARC violence prior to the ceasefire. This effect is not explained by peacebuilding and post-war recovery investments, and they are only partially driven by wartime child soldiering. Instead, we find support for other mechanisms such as the post- ceasefire plummeting of victimization and new economic opportunities in treated areas.

Children in Armed Conflict

This chapter addresses a particularly vulnerable population of children, namely, children associated with armed forces or armed groups. These children are colloquially known as child soldiers. This chapter begins by surveying the prevalence of child soldiering globally. It then sets out the considerable amount of international law that addresses children in armed conflict, in particular, the law that allocates responsibility for child soldiering and the law that sets out the responsibility of child soldiers for their conduct. The chapter identifies significant gaps between the law and the securing of positive outcomes for former child soldiers, notably when it comes to post-conflict reintegration. The protective impulse that envisions militarized youth as faultless passive victims may not always reflect how youthful fighters see themselves nor necessarily support an emancipatory and empowering vision of how international law should promote the rights of children.