The voices of the invisible girls : reintegration of former female child soldiers in Burundi

Child soldiers are used in armed groups and forces around the word. Children as young as seven years of age have been reported to actively participate in armed conflict. The phenomenon of child soldiering has become increasingly recognized in recent decades. Females constitute between ten per cent to one third of the fighting forces worldwide. Despite this, girls and women have until recently been highly invisible in both research and intervention programs. Former female child soldiers often experience social exclusion through rejection, marginalization and stigmatization when returning to civilian life, often due to the traditional and cultural aspects of the society. Regaining family and community acceptance is essential for a successful reintegration. This thesis seeks to be a voice for these girls, expressing their challenges in the social reintegration with family and community. What they consider their main challenges when returning to civilian life will also be investigated; and within the reintegration process, the role of Burundian traditional and cultural aspects will be further explored