December 18, 2024 -We are thrilled to announce that the Global Taskforce for Youth Combatants (GTY) will host its first online event this December. In this e...
November 26, 2024 –We are delighted to announce that a new member from Bosnia and Herzegovina has joined the Global Taskforce for Youth Combatants. Ms. ...
November 14, 2024 –We are delighted to announce that a new member from the Philippines has joined the Global Taskforce for Youth Combatants. Ms. Nahara ...
October 28, 2024 – Accept International* announces the launch of the Global Taskforce for Youth Combatants (GTY) to advocate globally for the rights and empo...
President of Naš Glas,
Survivor of conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) during the Bosnian War
Ms. Mirsada Tursunović is a survivor of conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) at the age of 18-year-old during the Bosnian War in the 1990s.
She is currently 50 years old, having dealt with trauma for many years. To raise public awareness about what happened during the war, she decided to break the conspiracy of silence through an adequate confrontation with the past, and advocate for the social inclusion of victims and survivors of sexual violence in war while continuously promoting democratic values such as humanity, non-violence, and tolerance. She established "Naš Glas (Our Voice)"– an association helping the victims and survivors of sexual violence in war. She strives to be a lifelong advocate for peace and hope for a better future for all, sharing her message with others around the world.
Father of two children,
Former member of a Haitian gang group
Mr. Edson Jean is a former member of a Haitian gang group, currently a 26-year-old. In 2024, he joined a local gang after his community was attacked by a hostile gang group, resulting in the destruction of his livelihood as a motorcycle cab driver. He has already left the gang group and lives with his mother in an Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp.
During his time in the gang group, he was a night watchman, defending the territory against attacks by rival gang groups. This period was marked by significant hardship, including the loss of his left arm in battle and the deaths of two close friends. He still has a bullet in his abdomen. Following the defeat of his group, he made the decision to leave the gang group.
Reflecting on his experiences, he expresses remorse for the victims of gang violence and wishes to encourage current gang members to lay down their arms. He thinks poverty and unemployment are the root causes of Haiti's ongoing situation. While he is uncertain about the possibility of achieving peace in Haiti, he decided to join GTY to explore potential avenues for positive change.
A closely related issue to that of youth is the rights of children involved in armed conflict. The formal legal term used internationally for such children is "Children Associated with Armed Forces and Armed Groups (CAAFAG*)," although the term "child soldiers" is more commonly used. Similarly, when referring to youth involved in armed conflict, we have introduced a new concept called "Youth Associated with Non-State Armed Groups (YANSAG** )." However, "youth soldiers" might be a common term for this demographic. Nevertheless, in this taskforce, we define youth involved with non-state armed groups as "youth combatants." This is because the term "soldiers" can sometimes imply members of national armed forces, and not all youth involved in armed conflicts take on a military role; some may be involved in different capacities, making "youth soldiers" an imprecise term.
Furthermore, the term "combatants" in international humanitarian law is defined as "all members of the armed forces of a party to a conflict, excluding medical and religious personnel" in international armed conflicts. They are granted the rights to (1) directly participate in hostilities and (2) be treated as prisoners of war if captured. In the context of non-international armed conflicts, however, the combatants do not enjoy the same status, and they are referred to as "civilians taking part in hostilities" under humanitarian law.
Given the widespread use of "combatants" in non-international armed conflict contexts without an international nature, and the unclear status of whether members of organized armed groups in non-international conflicts are "civilians" or directly participating in hostilities, we have chosen to refer to youth involved with non-state armed groups as "youth combatants." However, this term does not imply that they hold the status of combatants under international humanitarian law. Our focus remains on their needs and unique potential.
*Paris Principle: Principles and Guidelines on Children Associated with Armed Forces or Armed Groups (2007).
**Yosuke Nagai and Erica Harper: 'Youth Associated with Non-State Armed Groups: Building an Evidence Base on Disengagement Pathways and Reintegration Challenges,' Research Brief, forthcoming publication, the Geneva Academy (2023).
Deradicalization practitioner,
Former member of Negara Islam Indonesia (NII), Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), and Jemaah Anshorut Tauhid (JAT)
Mr. Atok, 42 years old, officially pledged allegiance to Negara Islam Indonesia (NII) when he was in junior high school. Later, seeking a more radical Islamic group, he left NII in 2008 and joined Jama Islamiyah (JI) and Jemaah Anshorut Tauhid (JAT) without taking the pledge.
He was exposed to radical teachings from a young age and eventually served 10 years and 8 months in prison for terrorism offences. In 2015, he attempted to help a sick friend but was ostracized by his fellow extremists and labeled as an infidel. This incident led him to recognize the errors of his previous Islamic beliefs and changed his mind.
Today, as a deradicalization practitioner, he works with Densus 88, an Indonesian National Police counter-terrorism unit, and the DeBintal Foundation, supporting empowerment and deradicalization programs for former terrorist prisoners across Indonesian prisons. He also routinely delivers sermons at the Klaten Prison Mosque, where he conducts deradicalization activities for terrorist prisoners and counter-radicalization for general prisoners.
University student,
Former Combatant of a non-state armed group in the Philippines
Ms. Nahara is a former combatant of a non-state armed group in the Philippines. She was recruited to the group through preaching in Marawi City when she was a 19-year-old university student, and later married one of the group's sub-leaders.
During her time in the group, she experienced numerous clashes with the Armed Forces of the Philippines in the mountains of Lanao del Sur and Lanao del Norte. In 2023, she became a widow when her husband was killed during a military operation in Marawi City. This operation not only led to her husband's death but also neutralized the leader of a non-state armed group in the Philippines. Afterwards, she became part of the pilot batch of a peace education and psychosocial care program called the Aftercare Peace Track of Teach Peace Build Peace Movement, and also had an opportunity to join a reintegration and deradicalization program for former extremists in Marawi City which brought new hope and more peaceful future for her and her child.
Currently, while participating in the program, Nahara is studying at the main campus of Mindanao State University in Marawi City, pursuing a bachelor's degree in Islamic Studies with a focus on Islamic Jurisprudence. Her goal is to become a successful lawyer and an advocate for peace, contributing to the creation of a more harmonious society and world. She believes it is her duty to strive for a future where peace and positivity prevail.
High school student,
Former member of Houthi (Ansar Allah)
Mr. Ahmed and his family were forcibly subjected to cultural and training programs by Houthi (Ansar Allah) during the conflict in Yemen when he was 12 years old. They escaped just before being sent to the front lines and managed to find refuge in areas controlled by the Internationally Recognized Government (IRG). He is currently a high school student.
Ahmed recalls the programs under Ansar Allah included extreme interpretations of Islamic and moral teachings that demanded obedience and sacrifice, while the training focused on weapons handling, disassembly, and physical conditioning. His situation improved significantly with the aid of humanitarian organizations, especially Accept International, which provided support in the form of food, medicine, and vocational training. He says the programs including education on solar system installation and computer skills, greatly helped him on his path to self-reliance.
NGO worker,
Former member of Al-Shabaab
Mr. Nor is a former member of Al-Shabaab in Somalia, he joined the organization at the age of 17, seeking revenge after a family member was killed during Somalia’s violent conflict.
After spending about two years as a combatant, he was arrested and sentenced to 15 years in prison. While incarcerated, he participated in rehabilitation programs run by Accept International, which helped him reflect on his past and develop a positive outlook. He even began supporting fellow inmates through these programs and was released in 2023. He is currently working as a staff member of an international NGO, involved in supporting the reintegration of youth associated with terrorism and conflict.
Self-employment,
Former combatant of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)
Ms. Wadani is a former combatant of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) . She voluntarily joined the LTTE at the age of 13 and experienced the Sri Lankan Civil War (1983-2009). During the civil war, she sustained injuries to her face and arm by RPG. After the war ended, she started her own business. Today, she has expanded into running restaurants and clothes stores, becoming a leader who employs several women with similar backgrounds.
Having personally suffered intense discrimination from her community for being a former LTTE member after the conflict, she has developed a keen interest in the protection and education of women in conflict areas.
Human rights lawyer and Project Manager of Aid Gate Organization
Ms. Wasar is a 31-year-old human rights lawyer and a Project Manager at Aid Gate Organization, where she leverages her extensive expertise in the Juvenile Justice sector in Iraq.
She also serves as an arbitrator for international disputes and is listed on the organization’s roster of arbitrators. With a background as a skilled trainer, she specializes in areas such as children associated with armed forces and armed groups (CAAFAG), restorative justice, child rights, child development, juvenile justice case management, peace education, and the reintegration of children after detention.
Her professional journey includes two years as a social worker and team leader in gender-based violence (GBV) projects, along with five years of experience as a social worker, peace education facilitator, and project officer for a juvenile justice project. She also managed the Women Voice First Project for a year, showcasing her ability to lead and implement impactful initiatives.
Deputy project coordinator of EducAid,
Former combatant of the Revolutionary United Front (RUF)
Mr. Wahid was forcibly recruited as a child soldier by the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) during the Sierra Leone Civil War (1991-2002) and now serves as the Deputy Project Coordinator at NGO EducAid Sierra Leone. He is currently 30 years old and holds a bachelor's degree in Business Administration and Management.
The conflict claimed the life of his father and subjected him to severe trauma, including forced training in weaponry and the administration of harmful substances. Despite these experiences, he managed to escape and reunite with his family. While the initial reunion brought a sense of relief, reintegrating into his community presented significant challenges.
This personal struggle ignited his passion for supporting former combatants and disadvantaged youth. He is deeply committed to the social reintegration and educational empowerment of former child and youth soldiers, especially living on the streets.
Nursing and pharmacy assistant,
Former combatant of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC)
Ms. Angélica is a former combatant of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC-EP), currently 29 years old. She joined the FARC at the age of 13 and dedicated herself to nursing and combat.
She reflects on how they fought against the ruling class despite feeling fear and frustration with the goal of bringing peace to the people of Colombia while their lives were in constant danger. Although many agreements were signed through the peace process, she is now aware of the current reality, where few guarantees for a secure life exist even though she managed to become a nursing assistant, pharmacy assistant, and escort. She now also has a career plan to study psychology.
Today, she hopes to continue building a better country and peace by working together with people from various regions in a new and different way.
Executive Director, Accept International
Dr. Yosuke Nagai is the Founder and Executive Director of Accept International. Since 2011, he has been dedicated to implementing defection support, rehabilitation and reintegration programs for disengaged combatants from non-state armed groups, with a primary focus on Somalia, Yemen, Kenya, Indonesia, and Colombia. Additionally, he has implemented emergency humanitarian assistance programs to support victims in these regions, involving graduates of rehabilitation programs.
His passion lies in empowering marginalized youth, such as disengaged youth combatants, by providing them with opportunities to break free from cycles of violence and become agents of peace. In 2024, he launched the Global Taskforce for Youth Combatants, which comprises peacebuilders with past experiences in non-state armed groups.
Dr. Nagai holds a PhD in Social Science from Waseda University and a Master's degree in Conflict Studies from the London School of Economics and Political Science. He has served as a visiting fellow at the University of Oxford and the Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights.