Children in conflict zones face relentless threats, from killings and abductions to sexual violence and recruitment into armed groups.
Attacks on schools, hospitals, and water facilities only deepen their suffering. In response, the Dallaire Institute for Children, Peace and Security, in collaboration with the University of Rwanda (UR), launched a short course on Wednesday, October 23, aimed at addressing these issues.
The first cohort includes 35 UR faculty members, including both senior and junior staff, as well as postgraduate students from various UR colleges.
The course, a result of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Dallaire Institute and UR’s Centre for Conflict Management, focuses on advancing the children, peace, and security agenda in Africa.
This initiative is the first of its kind at the university and aims to fill a critical gap in global efforts to protect children in conflict zones. It covers key areas such as child protection, preventing grave violations like recruitment into armed groups, and understanding the devastating impact of violence on children.
The course builds on Rwanda’s leadership in promoting children’s rights, complementing national efforts to position the country as a model for sharing best practices and lessons with the world. It aligns with Rwanda’s commitment to endorsing and implementing both international and national legal frameworks focused on children’s protection.
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Peter Primus, Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Rwanda, highlighted the importance of this collaboration: "We want the Dallaire Institute to achieve its vision of creating a world where children are at the heart of peace and security, a mission that resonates deeply with our values.”
He added: "Under two German-funded projects over the past five years, significant progress has been made, particularly in building capacity within the Rwanda Defense Forces and Rwanda National Police to prevent the recruitment and use of children in armed conflicts. These achievements have also extended to regional countries like Mozambique, South Sudan, and Ghana through shared learning and best practices on prioritising, preventing, and responding to grave violations against children.”
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Primus emphasised the urgency of the initiative, saying: "The launch of this short course comes at a critical time. The world faces ongoing conflict, war, pandemics, and displacement, with vulnerable communities bearing the brunt. Children are often the most affected, facing violence, exploitation, and trauma. However, we also know that children can be central to the solutions. The work we do together has the potential to break cycles of violence, fostering a more peaceful and secure future not only for children but for generations to come.”
Major General (Retired) Ferdinand Safari, Director of the Dallaire Institute’s African Centre of Excellence for Children, Peace, and Security, highlighted efforts to address the protection of children in conflict: "Over the past two weeks, we’ve engaged in deep discussions, enhancing our understanding of the complex challenges in safeguarding children from the horrors of armed conflict. Together, we explored not just the issue, but practical strategies for prevention, advocacy, and rehabilitation. I want to thank each of you for contributing your unique perspectives and expertise.”
He emphasised that this course is more than academic, saying: "It is a call to action. The knowledge and skills you’ve gained empower you to be champions for change within your communities. Whether you’re working in government, academia, civil society, or internationally, you now have both the capacity and responsibility to advocate for policies that prioritise children.”
Dr Charles Kalinganire, a lecturer at the University of Rwanda and one of the first graduates of the course, shared his experience: "We focused on the six grave violations, including killing and maiming of children, recruitment into armed groups, attacks on schools and hospitals, sexual violence, abductions, and denial of humanitarian access for children. While only 35 of us graduated, this was a training of trainers. The knowledge gained will undoubtedly spread, and we’re working to integrate this course into our curriculum.”
Dr Aggée Shyaka Mugabe, Acting Director of the University of Rwanda’s Centre for Conflict Management, emphasised the institution’s commitment to integrating the course content into its academic framework: "The University of Rwanda is prepared to progressively integrate this course so it has a broader impact in preventing the recruitment of children into armed groups. It’s no coincidence that we involved key units from the College of Arts and Social Sciences, the Centre for Conflict Management, the School of Law, and the School of Governance. Our work closely aligns with the mission and objectives of this initiative.”
He added: "In the future, we hope to call on you to help teach the next cohort since this is a training of trainers. The university has a research cluster called Inclusive Governance, Peace, and Security, led by the Centre for Conflict Management, which can be a platform for disseminating research based on the course content and conducting evidence-based advocacy on critical issues.”
Mugabe concluded by noting the expanded role of the university: "We’re increasing the University of Rwanda’s capacity to meet the expectations of our partners. This learning opportunity will help establish advocacy channels to prevent child recruitment in armed violence and potentially mainstream child protection concerns across the university&039;s training framework. We are also exploring the possibility of fully integrating this course into the UR curriculum.”