Finding the way back to childhood : a study on child soldiers with focus on southern Sudan

Abstract: Finding the way back to childhood is a dissertation, written to clarify whether or not there exist any rehabilitation plan for the child soldiers being released in southern Sudan. Children are today, worldwide being released and let back into their communities, after years of abuse and violations against their rights. According to The Convention on the Rights of the Child, a child is protected from involvement in direct hostilities. Psychological help and reintegration plans should be provided if a child has been exposed to armed conflict. Nevertheless reports indicate that countries and leaders across the world do not follow the conventions and protocols they have ratified and children across the world are today suffering from neglect and limited resources when it comes to rehabilitation plans for former child soldiers. With the help of former child soldier Michael of the SPLA in southern Sudan, I have been given an up to date and accurate picture of how the life of a former child soldier can develop without the help of international organisations or reintegration programs.