Gender-Sensitive Approaches to FTF Child Returnee Management

This paper highlights the challenges for training professionals to enable gender-sensitive rehabilitation and reintegration interventions for children returning to Europe from the conflict zone in Iraq and Syria. The paper identifies the need for gender-sensitive training and responses based on a) the gendered experiences of children while in Iraq or Syria and b) the gender-blind provisions for their return to date. The paper also emphasises the importance of age-appropriate consideration based on age on arrival and departure and the length of time they spent in the conflict zone.

Related readings:

van Ark, R.  The Caliphate’s Women and Children—What Role can the Family Courts play? (Part 2). Perspective, The International Centre for Counter-Terrorism, 26 August 2019.

van Ginkel, B., Wentworth, M. and Mehra, T. The Expanding Use of Administrative Measures in a Counter-Terrorism Context – Part 2: In Need of a Gender and Age-Sensitive Approach. Policy Brief, The International Centre for Counter-Terrorism, 29 November 2021.

van der Heide, L. and Geenen, J. Children of the Caliphate: Young IS Returnees and the Reintegration Challenge. Perspective, The International Centre for Counter-Terrorism, 28 August 2017.