Children and peacebuilding: Toward a comprehensive approach

This paper explores peacebuilding specifically as it applies to children in violent conflict. Recognizing that this relationship has largely been unexplored, other frameworks, particularly human rights, are examined as to their use and effectiveness in understanding and working with children in conflict. Through examination of research conducted in the West Bank and Bosnia and Herzegovina, it was discovered that though human rights is a helpful framework, it does not fully address the needs children in conflict nor does it provide a comprehensive understanding of children. Suggestions of other approaches which could contribute to a comprehensive peacebuilding framework for children are given and include the capabilities approach, social ecology, and conflict resolution along with human rights.