| ID | 127068 |
| Title Proper | Not suitable for children |
| Other Title Information | the politicisation of conflict-affected children in post-2001 Afghanistan |
| Language | ENG |
| Author | Koo, Katrina Lee |
| Publication | 2013. |
| Summary / Abstract (Note) | The 2001 conflict in Afghanistan has attracted a great deal of international controversy. The impact of the conflict on Afghanistan's children has been no exception. The research conducted by the United Nations and child protection organisations on the experiences of Afghan children throughout the conflict paints a bleak picture. Accounts of children being directly targeted, accidently killed, abducted, actively fighting in armed groups, denied humanitarian assistance or simply struggling to be healthy, happy, educated and secure amid this conflict are a reminder that conflict devastates children's lives. However, while this research demonstrates that children are often war's innocent victims, the ways in which this research is narrated, particularly by belligerent parties to the conflict, are far from innocent. This article examines the political manipulation of research on Afghan children affected by armed conflict. It argues that Afghan children and their experiences have become a powerful moral symbol that is used by belligerents to advance political, military and strategic agendas. |
| `In' analytical Note | Australian Journal of International Affairs Vol.67, No.4; August 2013: p.475-490 |
| Journal Source | Australian Journal of International Affairs Vol.67, No.4; August 2013: p.475-490 |
| Key Words | Afghanistan ; Children ; Conflict ; Critical International Relations ; International Organisation - IO ; International Order ; International Cooperation ; Violence ; Child Security ; Political Agenda ; Military Agenda ; Strategic Agenda ; United Nations ; Political Manipulation ; International Controversy |