Armed Conflict

Overview of the issue of armed conflict with accompanying comprehension exercises.

The lesson plans in this unit highlight the story of a teenager named Martha, from Sierra Leone, who shares how she copes with the aftermath of conflict in her country.

When violent events occur, it is a natural inclination to want to protect children from the terrifying details as they unfold in the media.  Yet in an age of pervasive communications technology, it is impossible to shield children – especially once they reach school age – from unpleasant world events.  There are ways, however, that we as educators and family members can help youth to cope with and make sense of tragedy in the world around them. 

Learn about UNICEF's interventions for complex emergency situations and armed conflict.

This video, which contains some mature content, explains how child soldiers are witnesses and victims of violence. In the past two years, UNICEF and its partners have freed more than 20,000 children from this form of bondage.

This video shows a group of young Iraqis, who describe their visions of peace for their country and then depict them in a flag.

Children affected by armed conflict have new opportunities to access education after the opening of “bush schools”.

In a recent conversation with UN and UNICEF Radio moderator Amy Costello, activist Jody Williams talked about her leading role in the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL), and about leading a women’s peace delegation to the Middle East. Her experiences hold potential lessons for achieving the UN Millennium Development Goal of universal primary education.