Research project CHILD-WAR receives NWO grant

The research project ‘When a non-existing country is at war - what happens to the children? A study on the rights of children living in de facto states during war and in post-war situations’, also CHILD-WAR, focuses on children living in de facto states during or directly after war. They lack protection under international law, because the state in which they live is not a UN Member State. In war situations, it is unclear which international law applies (if any), and who bears responsibility to protect the children involved. The CHILD-WAR project will provide answers to these legal questions. In addition, it will provide data on the children’s rights situation in three (areas of) de facto states that have recently experienced/are experiencing war: Gaza, Nagorno Karabakh, and Las Anod.

CHILD-WAR is led by Guleid Jama, who recently obtained his PhD from the Faculty of Law with his thesis on children's rights in Somaliland. Together with two other researchers, he focuses on the case studies within the project. Dr. Hopman's role is limited to supporting the team and overseeing the project management.

NWO SDG Scaling Grants

Next to CHILD-WAR, four other research projects were granted within the call call ‘Tackling Global Challenges through Use-Inspired Research SDG Scaling Grants’. This call is a follow-up to the 2017 call of the 'Tackling Global Challenges through Use-Inspired Research' research programme. Together, the five awarded projects will receive a total of €573,210.

The SDG Scaling Grants call offers researchers an opportunity to promote the practical application of tangible solutions from research findings at various scales. The objectives of this call are to promote the scaling up of promising innovations to achieve the goals of the SDG agenda. It also supports the associated conceptual knowledge base and the learning and research capacity of early career professionals.

 Correction on behalf of the project team

“In the previous version of this message, it was written that the project includes three case studies: “Las Aanod (Somaliland), Gaza (Palestina), en Nagorno Karabakh (Republic of Artsakh). Since sharing the exciting news about our upcoming research project “CHILD-WAR”, we have learned that some readers interpreted the statement as if we meant to argue that either Las Aanod is currently a part of Somaliland, and/or that it should be so. This was never our intention, and we apologise for any inconvenience or distress caused. The list of case studies solely refers to areas where children have recently experienced, or are still experiencing, armed conflict. In between brackets is the de facto state involved in the conflict: this is because the project is about the children’s rights situation for children experiencing armed conflict in de facto states. Today, Las Aanod is under the control of SSC-Khatumo, Nagorno-Karabakh is under control of Azerbaijan, and the war in Gaza is still ongoing. 

Once the project starts, we plan to organize an online consultation meeting/webinar for all interested stakeholders. We would love to get your input. If you are interested, please keep an eye on our social media channels, where we will share the invitation for this event.”