Annual student conference reveals growing interest in children and violence

What peace issues are on the minds of the next generation? Judging by the 2001 student conference, the role of children and violent conflict is high on the emerging peace agenda, and is motivating increasing numbers of students to get involved in peace research and action.

The 2001 student conference, titled “The Missing Peace,” attracted a record attendance of over 120 participants. Over 40 students made presentations at the conference, and organizers had to add additional panels to accommodate the high level of interest.

Students came from colleges and universities from across the U.S. and abroad, including Notre Dame, Colgate, Monterey Institute of International Studies (California), Central European University (Hungary), College of St. Benedict and St. John’s University (Minnesota), Purdue University, University of Alberta, Indiana University (Bloomington), and Grand Valley State University (Michigan).

Priscilla Hayner, Program Director of the newly established International Center for Transitional Justice and author of Unspeakable Truths: Confronting State Terror and Atrocities, gave a challenging keynote address, “Stepping Out of the Box: Paving One’s Own Path as an Independent Writer on Human Rights.” Hayner’s address, which identified several lessons she had learned in her career as an independent writer on peace issues, provoked an engaging discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of working for peace independently. Kroc Visiting Fellow Peter Wallensteen and George Lopez also led discussions relating to the practice of peacemaking.

One common theme running through several student presentations was a concern with how to teach peace and conflict resolution skills to children and youth, particularly those growing up in contexts of violence or war. One panel explored issues surrounding the recruitment and training of child soldiers and the complex dynamics resulting from the involvement of children in warfare in contexts such as Israel/Palestine, Colombia, Uganda, Cambodia, and Sri Lanka.

Panelists noted that children are lured into violent conflict through a variety of factors, including not only active recruitment by militant groups, but also peer pressure and cultural approval of violence. The participation of children in the conflict creates difficult dilemmas for security forces, who must decide whether to treat the children as militants or bystanders. Problems are complicated when militant groups take advantage of the children’s presence by using them as shields.

The conference also featured presentations by several middle school students. Students who had participated in the activities of the Peace Learning Center in Indianapolis gave presentations on peace and demonstrated peer mediation. Students from South Bend discussed the “Take Ten” program in several local schools.

Many participants in the conference presented research emerging from experiences while studying abroad or working in community organizations, where first-hand observation of injustice or exploitation sparked their interest in broader global issues. A Notre Dame student who had visited Nepal presented research on child labor practices in the carpet and sex trafficking industries in Nepal after seeing how a young Nepali apprentice was mistreated; others presented research resulting from experiences working with the homeless and refugees. Complementing these undergraduate presentations, several M.A. students from the Kroc Institute gave presentations related to their home countries.

Lauren Simmons, a senior in government and international studies, served as this year’s conference chairperson, and had excellent support from the conference planning committee. Siobhan McEvoy-Levy, Director of Undergraduate Studies at the Kroc Institute, was the faculty advisor.

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Home > Publications > Peace Colloquy > Issue 1 (Spring 2002)