The Tsunami and earthquake in Aceh created a momentum for peace which resulted in a
peace agreement after armed conflict for over three decades. The parties to the conflict
realized that without peace agreement, rehabilitation and reconstruction processes in the
province will be impossible. More than 15,000 people were dead during this conflict and
many children lost their parents and loved ones. Many children have experienced
psychosocial distresses not only from Tsunami, but also from the armed conflict. The impact
from the armed conflict prolongs psychosocial problems for children and adolescents.
During this conflict, many children did not receive proper education to fulfil their rights to
growth and development because of lack of and low quality of formal education facilities (see
Setya, 2004). Access to education facilities was also limited due to intensified conflict
situation. The armed conflict also damaged local economy, which consequently, increased the
number of poor families unable to afford school expenses for children.
After the signing of the Helsinki MoU in 2005, the government has planned a number of
measures to assist the reintegration of former GAM members back into their communities.
This includes vocational training and other opportunities for former GAM members to
provide them with the skills and basic commodities and knowledge to become active and
productive members of their communities. But progress has been very slow (World Bank,
2006). Children associated with the parties to the conflict, as well as the wider group of
children and adolescents affected by the conflict, will require similar assistance to promote
their reintegration into their communities – but adapted to ensure that activities planned are
appropriate for their age and capacity.
Children in post armed conflict areas in Aceh need a protective environment where they can
build their characters, because for a long period during armed conflict, they have been living
in uncertainties without much access to adequate education, training or decent employment
opportunities. This study is intended to collect information directly from children/
adolescents affected by armed conflict which will be used to form a proper mechanism to
provide reintegration opportunities for children and adolescents. |