Peace and Conflict Studies - Spring 2014

Peace and Conflict Studies Volume 21, Number 1 28 between childhood and adulthood . This allows for the exploration of the specific factors that determine the transition into adulthood in different contexts (Hilker & Fraser, 2009, p. 9). Partly due to the complexity of defining the category, youth are often overlooked. However, there are a number of reasons why it is essential to consider youth as distinct actors in conflict situations. First, youth are disproportionately affected by conflict. The past fifteen years have seen increasing recognition of the negative impacts of conflict on youth. Disruption to schooling means that they miss out on the physical, psychosocial and cognitive protection that education provides (UNESCO, 2011). Reports also indicate that youth are increasingly on the front line of armed conflicts, with classrooms, teachers and students seen as legitimate targets (O’Malley, 2010). Youth are also likely to be represented in the ranks of armed groups and state armies. Here there are two sets of literature. The first relates to the forced recruitment of child soldiers and espouses the need for protective measures. The UN Secretary General’s report to the Security Council, covering fifteen countries, identifies fifty-seven groups recruiting child soldiers (United Nations, 2010). The second relates to the “threat” posed by older, mostly male youth who are thought to be easily mobilised by rebel leaders. This is related to an increasing demonization of youth in the media (for critique of this see Hendrixson, 2004; Sommers, 2006). However, it does reflect the reality that youth “provide much of the crucial energy and mass power to get wheels turning for divergent ‘vehicles’ of social and political change” (Hamilton, 2010, p. 4). Second, youth are often key actors in peacebuilding. As McEvoy-Levy (2001) writes, In any conflict context one examines, the dominant presence of the young in youth work, in community development, and in inter-ethnic and dialogue and peace groups is clear. Many have direct experience of violence, conflict and imprisonment themselves. They are not well paid, their projects are under-funded, often stressful and can be life threatening. Like other civil society actors they are less visible in analysis of peace processes than key elites. (pp. 24-25) As the “primary actors in grassroots community development/relations work” McEvoy-Levy argues youth are “at the frontlines of peacebuilding” (2001, p. 24). However, for many years policymakers and scholars have not adequately explored the positive contribution made by youth. This shortfall is starting to be acknowledged by some. The 2007 World Development Report of the World Bank, for example, focused attention on the needs and transformative potential of “the next generation” in development, but much of the