New Report Highlights the Effects of Exposure to Children in Armed Conflict During Military Service

“I’m not broken, I’m part of a system that has issues.” 

The Dallaire Institute for Children, Peace and Security recently released a report on the preliminary findings of a multi-phase research project with veterans of the Canadian Armed Forces. The Effects of Exposure to Children in Armed Conflict During Military Service research project was inspired by Lt General (retired) Roméo Dallaire’s experience encountering children engaged in armed violence during the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. 

This project seeks to understand the experiences of Canadian Armed Forces veterans who have had encounters with children in armed violence, particularly with children who have been recruited and used as soldiers. The aim of the research is to better understand the nature of encounters with children during military service and determine the mental health impacts on personnel. The findings will help to provide additional guidance on training, mental health supports, and policies that are needed to improve resilience and operational effectiveness of military members who are deployed in contexts where children are engaged in armed violence. 

As the nature of peace support operations continues to evolve, military personnel are increasingly likely to encounter children in conflict zones. Understanding the effects of these encounters is essential for future operations and for the health and wellbeing of military personnel and their families. 

To read the full report, click here.  

Graphic recording by Rach Derrah

This project is funded by Veterans Affairs Canada – Family Well Being Fund. The research is a collaborative effort between the Dallaire Institute at Dalhousie University, the Centre for Addictions and Mental Health, The MacDonald Franklin Operational Stress Injury Research Centre, and Mount Saint Vincent University.