The Global Taskforce for Youth Combatants (GTY) has published a new article, “Insights from the Ground: Voices and Potential of Youth Associated with Non-State Armed Groups,” on its Transformative Narratives Publication page.
Written by Dr. Yosuke Nagai — Executive Director of Accept International, Founder of GTY, and Visiting Fellow at the University of Oxford — the article presents nine key findings drawn from dialogue-based surveys with 450 current and former Youth Associated with Non-State Armed Groups (YANSAG)* across 15 countries: Somalia, Yemen, Kenya, Indonesia, Colombia, Mali, Sudan, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Uganda, Haiti, Pakistan, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Nepal.
The article highlights the realities surrounding YANSAG, including the backgrounds behind their association with armed groups, the specific needs they face, and the challenges of reintegration, which remain insufficiently understood within international society. At the same time, it sheds light on their richness, diversity, and uniqueness, shaped by their complex and often harsh experiences of armed conflict, reaffirming their potential to become unique agents of peace and to contribute significantly to conflict resolution and peacebuilding.
▶︎ Read the full article here.
*Youth Associated with Non-State Armed Groups: The term “YANSAG” is defined as “any person aged between 18-35 years, though not strictly limited to this age range, who is or who has been recruited or used by a NSAG (Non-State Armed Group) in any capacity.” The status includes various forms of YANSAG, such as defectors, prisoners, detainees, returnees, and ex-combatants.
