Table of Contents

1) Letter from the Executive Board

2) Committee Background

3) Introduction to the Agenda

4) Current Scenario

5) Brief Case Study of Various DDR Initiatives

6) Past International Action

7) Useful Research Links

 Letter from the Executive Board

Dear delegates,

It gives us immense pleasure to moderate the African Union (A.U) in SDMUN III.
The agenda for our committee is “Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration (DDR) of
Child Soldiers and Ex-Combatants.”, an extremely academic and relevant topic within the
African Continent.

Concerning the committee sessions, we expect fruitful discussions using accurate content,
which delegates can use to direct the flow of debate into solution-oriented speeches and
compose an effective and adequate resolution. Being bold and ambitious in your performance is
allowed, but we hope the upcoming African Union delegates can create a comfortable and
friendly environment inside and outside the conference room. We confidently believe that you
will all be able to find interestingly relevant items and sub-topics to discuss throughout the
committee sessions, represent your country accurately and purposefully, and reach decisions
that will address the issues at hand through unanimous collaboration. Remember that
understanding the rules of procedure to the best possible level will be a significant asset during
the committee sessions.

We hope you will find this Study Guide useful as an introduction to the given agenda. However,
it provides far from sufficient research; you will require further in-depth research on all aspects
of the agenda. We strongly encourage you to explore further and adhere to your country’s
policies. If you need any clarifications, you are always welcome to contact us.
We are excitedly looking forward to meeting you all. Wishing you all the best of luck with your
research and for the conference!

Regards,
Sajid Faisal - Chairperson
Shadman Islam - Vice-Chairperson
Firuz Tahsin Rodshi - Vice-Chairperson
Mashrur Mahtab - Director
 Committee Background
The African Union (AU) is a continental organisation comprising 55 member countries of the
African continent. It replaced the Organization of African Unity (OAU), which existed from 1963
to 1999, with its establishment in 2002. The African Union was pushed for by the OAU's Heads
of State and Government in the Sirte Declaration, which was released on September 9, 1999.
Accelerating continental integration would enable Africa to take up its proper place in the world
economy and handle the many social, political, and economic issues that have been made
worse by some of the negative effects of globalisation. The AU is guided by its vision of “An
Integrated, Prosperous and Peaceful Africa, driven by its citizens and representing a dynamic
force in the global arena.”

Defending the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence of its member states,
promoting greater unity and solidarity among African nations and their people, and accelerating
political and socioeconomic integration throughout the continent are the common goals of the
African Union's Constitutive Act and the Protocol on Amendments to the African Union's
Constitutive Act. It supports international cooperation, tries to provide the conditions necessary
for Africa to play a major role in the global economy, and promotes and defends common
African positions on matters of relevance. As specified in pertinent human rights instruments,
the AU is committed to safeguarding the protection of peoples' and human rights while
advancing democracy, security, stability, and good governance. It also seeks to encourage
scientific and technology research, foster sustainable development, improve cooperation to
boost living standards and coordinate policies among Regional Economic Communities. Along
with ensuring women effectively participate in decision-making, the AU collaborates with
international partners to eradicate preventable diseases, promote good health, and create
shared trade, defence, and foreign policy initiatives. Additionally, it extends an invitation for the
African Diaspora to fully engage in the Union's construction.
 Introduction to the Agenda

Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration (DDR) is a complex multi-faceted process that

is used to consolidate peace in a nation. It involves carrying out systemic de-escalation of
conflict by ensuring that previously armed combatants are disarmed and reintroduced back into
society as useful contributing members through a multi-phase initiative. It is a very useful tool
that has played an integral role in the restabilization of many countries. A poorly conceptualized
and delivered DDR may undermine stabilization efforts and even be a cause of further conflict
and insecurity.

Definitions

Disarmament: This is the process of gathering, recording, controlling, and getting rid of small
arms, explosives, ammunition, and light and heavy weapons that are used by combatants and
frequently by civilians as well. Responsible arms management program development is a
component of disarmament as well.

Demobilization: The official and supervised release of fighters who are currently serving in the
armed services or other armed groups. The initial phase of demobilization could involve
processing individual fighters in makeshift facilities or gathering troops in camps set aside for
that purpose (barracks, encampments, cantonment locations, or assembly grounds).
Reinsertion, the term for the support package given to the demobilized, is included in the
second stage of demobilization.

Reintegration: Reintegration is the process by which ex-combatants acquire civilian status and
gain sustainable employment and income. Reintegration is essentially a social and economic
process with an open time frame, primarily taking place in communities at the local level. It is
part of the general development of a country and a national responsibility and often necessitates
long-term external assistance

Child soldier: A "child soldier" is defined as "any person under the age of eighteen who is part
of any kind of regular or irregular armed force or armed group in any capacity, including but not
limited to cooks, porters, messengers, and anyone accompanying such groups, other than
purely as family members" by the Cape Town Principles and Best Practices (1997). Forcible
marriage and the recruitment of females for sex are included in the definition. Therefore, it
doesn't just apply to kids who are carrying or have carried weapons. The United Nations states
that enlisting minors under the age of eighteen into the armed forces is not only against the law
but also one of the worst types of child labour. It is a war crime to recruit minors younger than
fifteen. If a DDR program includes children, they must be separated from adult ex-combatants
and receive assistance specifically designed for their needs.
Ex-Combatant: An ex-combatant is a person who fought in a war but has chosen not to engage
in violent conflict any longer. Many former fighters are in the age range of 15 to 24. Many have
not received socialization from their communities or families. They might have lost out on
chances for work and education as well. The unique needs and possibilities of this population
should be taken into account in DDR programs (e.g., drug rehab, youth clubs, etc.). Formally
participating in the DDR process is necessary to ensure that female ex-combatants, supporters,
and dependents receive support tailored to their needs and goals (e.g., separate shelter and
sanitation facilities, treatment for sexual and gender-based violence, reproductive health
services, childcare, and other gender-specific services).

Reinsertion: It is the assistance offered to ex-combatants during demobilization but before the
longer-term process of reintegration. Reinsertion is a form of transitional assistance to help
cover the basic needs of ex-combatants and their families and can include transitional safety
allowances, food, clothes, shelter, medical services, short-term education, training, employment
and tools. While reintegration is a long-term, continuous social and economic process of
development, reinsertion is a short-term material and/or financial assistance to meet immediate
needs and can last up to one year.

Current scenario

The prevalence of conflict in Africa and thus the applicable importance of these programs
towards consolidating peace has led to the African Union having a vested interest in this
agenda. Whilst neither conflict nor such programs are limited to Africa, almost two-thirds of all
such programs are located within the continent. DDR programs are becoming more prevalent as
time progresses with the African Union taking a significant role within the African Continent.
Assisted by a broad mandate, The African Union often has a very direct involvement in the DDR
programs of many of its member states. With each DDR program, more and more criticisms
have been raised and flaws have been pointed out. That led to a constant cycle of evaluation
and reevaluation through which many improvements have been made.

DDR is a vast project that involves many detailed layers of activities, limitations and integral
factors to each of its phases. Lessons learnt from previous evaluations have led to a greater
understanding of various core aspects of this agenda such as the linkage between DDR and
Security Sector Reform (SSR) and the involvement of various vulnerable groups within DDR
programs. Constant improvements have been made throughout the many evaluations and
frameworks that have been adopted like the UN Integrated Disarmament, Demobilization and
Reintegration Standards (IDDRS) and the African Union Operational Guidance Notes (OGNs).
DDR processes have often been harmonised and combined with other strategies such as
Community Violence Reduction (CVR) initiatives and SSR to ensure better conceptualisation
and implementation of DDR programs. Due to its paramount importance in consolidating peace
in a nation, it has been a key focus of not only the African Union but also other global
organisations.

United Nations and Additional Organisations

The genesis of the DRR process is Boutros Boutros-Ghali’s conception of post-conflict
peacebuilding as a framework for ensuring that violent conflict would not reoccur in post-conflict
settings. From the mid-1990s, the UN embraced the DDR process as an essential element of its
multidimensional post-conflict peacebuilding and reconstruction function. It was initially the UN
that developed the IDDRS framework through its Inter-Agency Working Group on DDR
(IAWG-DDR) and also led the establishment of subsequent iterations of the DDR process such
as the 2019 “Revised UN Approach to DDR” guidelines and the second-generation DDR. The
United Nations has undertaken a major role in DDR programs due to its unique position in world
politics as a unifying platform. The UN provides invaluable support on DDR processes around
the globe, often either leading such processes or providing assistance to them. They work with
the African Union to ensure that their DDR plans are carried out effectively through avenues like
the African Union DDR Capacity Program (AUDDRCP) and Funding mobilisation. Even
additional organisations like the European Union (EU) also play an integral role in the DDR
process. The EU has long supported DDR projects within Africa, primarily through economic
means such as the African Peace Facility (APF) and European Development Fund (EDF).
However, their contributions extend beyond that, with them playing supporting roles through
technical assistance and policy-building support initiatives. Critically, The EU-AU Peace and
Security Partnership between both organisations has proved vital during conflict times and
regularly has to encompass DDR aspects when tackling issues. Other bodies such as the World
Bank, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), Regional Organizations and Economic
Communities such as ECOWAS, etc also play key roles in the DDR process. All in all, the
United Nations and additional organisations such as the European Union, World Bank, etc, play
major contributing roles towards the successful implementation of DDR programs by African
Union member states. Most of all, regional governments and national governments have the
most responsibility towards the successful implementation of DDR since they directly hold the
most amount of control over a region. National actors are ultimately in charge of organizing and
carrying out the DDR program. National commissions on DDR are examples of the kinds of
national institutions that governments must set up. They must guarantee the representation of
line ministries and other government bodies accountable for national recovery and development
policies within these establishments. Which fighters will be reduced in size or dissolved is
normally decided by the armed forces and groups after consulting with other relevant parties.
They might also take part in the creation of DDR institutions and policies. Civil Society
Organizations (CSOs) may contribute to DDR's development and execution, especially
concerning the social and economic reintegration component

Delegates should be well aware of the role of additional organisations within the agenda and
should be able to properly utilise all avenues available to them.

Brief case study of various DDR initiatives

As mentioned, there are a plethora of cases from which one can draw comparisons and
conclusions. Extensive room for improvement remains throughout the numerous programs past
and present. Listed below are some such programs. Whilst this provides a map of DDR over
time, Delegates are expected to carry out further in-depth research into such programs rather
than completely relying on the study guide for information. The study guide simply scratches the
surface of the agenda and provides a foundational baseline on which delegates can stand to
tackle the agenda. It is nowhere near analysing the true depth of this agenda. It is to be
emphasized that the following details are merely information from certain case studies and
should not be the only points of focus for delegates.

DDR In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)

The DRC has been plagued by prolonged conflicts involving various armed groups, including
Congolese militias, foreign rebel groups, and criminal networks. These conflicts have resulted in
significant human suffering, displacement, and economic instability. As a result, the Democratic
Republic of the Congo has been the location of one of the most active DDR initiatives right now.
It. The United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the
Congo (MONUSCO) is the primary body overviewing phases of DDR within the DRC. DDR has
been a primary focus of the government of DRC and MONUSCO has received support from all
aforementioned bodies. Through DDR initiatives, Thousands of ex-combatants have been
disarmed and reintroduced back into society as trained contributing members. Several
challenges were faced during the initiative and through a review of these challenges, further
improvements to our frameworks are being developed. The DRC alongside its neighbours such
as Angola, Central African Republic, Rwanda, etc were also part of the now-concluded
Multi-Country Demobilization and Reintegration Program (MDRP) that demobilised close to
300,000 combatants and reintegrated 232,000 Ex-combatants.
 DDR In the Great Lakes Region
Great Lakes region of Africa includes countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo
(DRC), Rwanda, Burundi, and Uganda. Each of these countries has faced its fair share of
conflict and chaos. All of these countries house their own DDR initiative to some capacity. The
importance of the Great Lakes is installed in the fact that it provides information on a regional
basis, rather than simply a country-by-country basis. The African Union and the United Nations
alongside other international players have consistently worked in this region to obtain valuable
data. Together, they facilitate regional cooperation and harmonize strategic direction to lead to a
more coherent initiative. They assist in information sharing and resource mobilization all of
which have added up together to lead to greater consolidation of peace. Furthermore, many of
the countries present such as Rwanda and Mozambique, showed incredible success in their
DDR programs. Comparisons between the DDR cases of varying success can provide key
insight into flaws and improvements that may be available.

DDR In the Central African Republic (CAR)

The DDR initiatives in the Central African Republic involve some of the heaviest involvement of
the African Union. The Central African Republic has been in a state of conflict for decades, with
major escalations in violence occurring in 2013 when a coalition of predominantly Muslim rebel
groups known as Séléka overthrew the government. This led to a violent response from mainly
Christian anti-Balaka militias. The conflict has resulted in widespread displacement, human
rights abuses, and economic devastation. The DDR program in the CAR aims to disarm
combatants, dismantle armed groups, and facilitate the reintegration of former fighters into
civilian life. The AU plays a critical role in coordinating and implementing these efforts, working
closely with the CAR government and The United Nations Multidimensional Integrated
Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA). The African Union has
provided a plethora of support ranging from operational support to capacity-building training.
Numerous Ex-combatants have received support through vocational training, education, and
psychosocial services, aiding their transition to civilian life. Continued support and innovative
approaches are essential for the sustained success of DDR initiatives in the CAR.

DDR in Somalia and South Sudan

Two of the most important case studies on DDR were those in Somalia and South Sudan. DDR
within Somalia primarily focuses on Al-Shabaab and whilst in South Sudan, the primary focus is
on combatants arising from ethnic violence that led to recurrent cycles of widespread violence,
displacement, and humanitarian crises.
Each initiative was subject to mixed success, faced many challenges and has often been
perceived as supposed failures. Each managed to reduce the number of active combatants but
faced several issues ranging from economic and societal problems to recurring governmental
instability and logistical problems. Though they did not receive great success, evaluations done
on these programs proved pivotal towards the growth and development of the DDR method.
Data taken from these amongst others, led to the development of frameworks, increased
awareness of involved parties and greater knowledge of the process of DDR.

DDR in Angola and Sierra Leon

Two of the biggest success stories of DDR implementation were those in Angola and Sierra
Leon. Both had recently come out of prolonged civil wars before beginning their DDR
processes. Angola was ravaged by a civil war lasting from 1975 to 2002 whilst Sierra Leone
was devastated by a civil war lasting from 1991 to 2002. Successful DDR implementation
played an integral role in providing both countries with consolidated peace after decades of
internal strife. Both served as proof of concept and represented significant achievements for
DDR initiatives globally.

DDR in Ethiopia
Ethiopia is one of the few countries that has had limited interaction with DDR initiatives in the
past few decades due to its relative stability. It had been familiarised with DDR historically right
after concluding its civil war that lasted from 1974 to 1991. Yet now, in light of recent escalations
of conflicts like the Tigray conflict, DDR is once again at the helm of discussions. Assessing the
Case of Ethiopia can potentially allow for vast insight. Delegates can use the case of Ethiopia
amongst many other cases to assess the applicability, feasibility and application of DDR
initiatives

Past International Actions

For as long as warfare has existed societies have confronted the problem of what to do with
combatants once hostilities cease. Unlike international conflicts, the presence of heavily armed
former combatants within a society can threaten the fragile peace process and destabilize the
country. Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration (DDR) programs have emerged as a
critical response from the international community to address this very issue.

Recognizing the potential for a violent relapse if ex-combatants are left without support, DDR
programs aim to rehabilitate and reintegrate these individuals back into society. This strategy
mitigates the risk of renewed conflict and fosters long-term stability.
The need for DDR programs has become increasingly apparent in recent decades. Since the
late 1990s, the international community, including the World Bank and the United Nations, has
actively supported DDR initiatives in a growing number of post-civil war contexts. In 1999, the
UN Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 1261 which demanded concrete
measures from countries involved in armed conflict, urging them to end the recruitment and use
of children in their forces. Following this, UN Security Council Resolutions 1314 (2000), 1379
(2001), 1612 (2005), and 1882 (2009) were adopted which were built upon these foundations,
establishing a proper framework that lays the groundwork for safeguarding and sustaining the
communities to which these individuals return, while building capacity for long-term peace,
security and development.

The United Nations soon started releasing the unique challenges faced by child soldiers, thus
the development of comprehensive DDR programs was introduced. The UN Inter-Agency
Working Group on DDR (IAWG-DDR) played a critical role in making the efforts successful.
Their creation of the Integrated Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration Standards
(IDDRS) in 2006 served as a major role in such establishments. These standards outlined a
holistic approach to DDR, moving beyond traditional, simple disarmament. They emphasized
the specific needs of children, advocating for age-appropriate programs that prioritize education,
vocational training, and psychosocial support. This ensured former child soldiers weren't simply
left to fend for themselves but were equipped with the tools necessary to rebuild their lives.

As DDR is implemented in partnership with Member States and draws on the expertise of a
wide range of stakeholders, an integrated approach seems vital to ensure that all actors are
working in harmony towards the same end. past experiences have highlighted the need for
those involved in planning and implementing DDR and monitoring its impacts to work together in
a complementary way that avoids unnecessary duplication of effort or competition for funds and
other resources.

At the same time, the Secretary-General’s Action for Peacekeeping (A4P) initiative, launched in
March 2018 as the core agenda for peacekeeping reform, seeks to refocus peacekeeping with
realistic expectations, make peacekeeping missions stronger and safer, and mobilize greater
support for political solutions and well-structured, well- equipped and well-trained forces.
Concerning the need for integrated DDR solutions, the A4P Declaration of Shared Commitment,
shared by the Secretary-General on 16 August 2018, calls for the inclusion and engagement of
civil society and all segments of the local population in peacekeeping mandate implementation.
In addition, it includes commitments related to strengthening national ownership and capacity,
ensuring integrated analysis and planning, and seeking greater coherence among UN system
actors, including through joint platforms such as the Global Focal Point on Police, Justice and
Corrections. Relatedly, the Secretary-General’s Agenda for Disarmament, launched in May
2018, also calls for “disarmament that saves lives”, including new efforts for the use of explosive
weapons in populated areas – through common standards, the collection of data on collateral
harm, and the sharing of policy and practice.
The UN General Assembly and the Security Council have called on all parts of the UN system to
promote gender equality and the empowerment of women within their mandates, ensuring that
commitments made are translated into progress on the ground and gender policies in the
IDDRS. More concretely, UNSCR 1325 (2000) encourages all those involved in the planning of
disarmament, demobilization and reintegration to consider the distinct needs of female and male
ex-combatants and to take into account the needs of their dependents. The Global Study on
1325, reflected in UNSCR 2242 (2015), also recommends that mission planning include
gender-responsive DDR programmes.

Furthermore, Security Council Resolution 2282 (2016), the Review of the United Nations
Peacebuilding Architecture, the Review of Women, Peace and Security, and the High-Level
Panel on Peace Operations (HIPPO) note the importance of women’s roles in sustaining peace.
UNSCR 2282 highlights the importance of women’s leadership and participation in conflict
prevention, resolution and peacebuilding, recognizing the continued need to increase the
representation of women at all decision-making levels, including in the negotiation and
implementation of DDR programmes. UN General Assembly resolution 70/304 calls for women’s
participation as negotiators in peace processes, including those incorporating DDR provisions,
while the Secretary General’s Seven Point Action Plan on Gender-Responsive Peacebuilding
calls for 15% of funding in support of post-conflict peacebuilding projects to be earmarked for
women’s empowerment and gender-equality programming. Finally, the Secretary-General’s
Agenda for Disarmament calls on States to incorporate gender perspectives into the
development of national legislation and policies on disarmament and arms control in particular,
the gendered aspects of ownership, use and misuse of arms; the differentiated impacts of
weapons on women and men; and how gender roles can shape arms control and disarmament
policies and practices.
 Useful Research Links
1) https://au.int/sites/default/files/documents/39056-doc-46._the_role_of_disarmament_de
mobilization_and_reintegration_programs_in_post-conflict_reconstruction_some_lesson
s_learnt.pdf
2) https://au.int/sites/default/files/documents/39242-doc-192._social_development_notes._
conlfict_crime_and_violence.pdf
3) https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/19362200802285757
4) https://www.unddr.org/joint-statement-on-covid-19-and-disarmament-demobilization-and-
reintegration/
5) https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/disarmament-demobilization-and-reintegration-ddr-afric
a
6) https://au.int/sites/default/files/documents/38962-doc-118._child_soldiers_and_disarmam
ent_demobilization_rehabilitation_and_reintegration_in_west_africa.pdf
7) https://unitar.org/sustainable-development-goals/peace/our-portfolio/disarmament-demo
bilization-and-reintegration
8) https://peacekeeping.un.org/en/disarmament-demobilization-and-reintegration
9) https://cdn.peaceopstraining.org/course_promos/ddr/ddr_english.pdf
10) https://www.unddr.org/un-ddr/
11) https://papsrepository.africa-union.org/handle/123456789/174
12) https://cdn.peaceopstraining.org/course_promos/ddr/ddr_english.pdf
13) https://mdrp.org/