Neither War nor Peace
From the favelas of Rio de Janeiro to the townships of Cape Town, from the inner-city communities of Kingston, to the rural provinces of the Philippines or the ghettoes of Chicago, children and youth are dying in increasing numbers due to gun violence. While some die in gang disputes, some in organised crime, and others in direct conflict with state security forces, increasing firearms-related mortality reflects the growing involvement of young people in organised armed groups that function outside of traditionally defined war zones. The shocking reality is presented in a new book released by Viva Rio, which challenges the traditional parameters of definitions such as armed conflict, crime and delinquency; a reality that for many young people who live it daily is Neither War nor Peace. The book will also be available on line at www.coav.org.br on the 24th of May.
Neither War nor Peace presents contextual comparisons of organised armed groups and the involvement of children and youth within them from ten countries across four continents. By comparing the history, structure and functioning of the investigated armed groups, as well as the motivations, desires and day-to-day reality of their child and youth members, this publication is a starting point for the much needed discussion of a situation that is too often addressed by state force and repression. Building on the conclusions of the publication Children of the Drug Trade: a case study of children in organised armed violence in Rio de Janeiro (Dowdney 2003), the book seeks to answer the following questions:
What are the similarities and differences between these groups?
Why do some young people get involved while others do not?
Can community-level interventions be successful in preventing children and youth from joining such groups, or reintegrating those wanting to leave?
What kind of policies exist to deal with these groups, are such policies successful in treating the problem or could other policies be more effective?
Neither War nor Peace is divided in three main sections: the first makes comparisons between the groups investigated in each country, the second describes the participation of children and youth in these groups, and the third one compares existing public policies and the civil society responses, concluding with recommendations on how to treat the problem. The book also contains individual chapters for each of the countries.
The research was coordinated by Viva Rio, IANSA e ISER, supported by Save the Children Sweden, DFID, Ford Foundation and World Vision, through partnerships with local institutions. The data was collected by local researchers during 12 months in the 10 countries. Interviews were carried out with 120 children and youth members of groups like Comando Vermelho, in Rio de Janeiro, Mara Salvatrucha, in El Salvador, Bloques Cacique Nutibara, in Medellín, Egbesu Boys, in Nigeria, and The Black Gangster Disciples, in Chicago.
What is COAV?
COAV stands for ‘Children in Organised Armed Violence’, a term that identifies children and youth employed or otherwise participating in Organised Armed Violence where there are elements of a command structure and power over territory, local population or resources outside of traditional war situations.
The COAV Programme
The COAV programme seeks to promote the national and international recognition of the plight of children and youth in organised armed violence, further understanding of the theme through research and information gathering, identifying areas where children and youth are at most risk, working to reduce the problem via coordinating pilot projects and formulating and promoting public policy.
