Part of the Diplomacy Dialogues at Future of Internationalism
In many parts of the world, conflict is an enduring reality. For millions of children, it means facing unimaginable conditions and facing dangers that many can hardly picture. These conflicts, often unnoticed or misunderstood, are not the large-scale napoleonic wars of the past but rather persistent, low-level violence that frequently escapes global attention.
Today’s conflicts have evolved. With powerful militaries and the deterrent of nuclear weapons, massive multinational wars have largely given way to smaller, yet enduring conflicts. These struggles rarely make headlines as they once did, leading to a lack of awareness about the harsh realities on the ground. The children caught in these conflict zones are often the most vulnerable, living in environments where fear and instability are a daily reality.
According to UNICEF, over the past 18 years, more than 300,000 grave violations against children in conflict have been verified worldwide. Save the Children reports that 468 million children globally are living with the effects of war and conflict - equating to one in six children around the world. There are unfortunately many conflicts that exemplify this modern paradigm of warfare, for example, the DRC, Sudan, and Syria.
Democratic Republic of Congo
The ongoing conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is rooted in a complex web of ethnic tensions, control over rich natural resources, and the presence of numerous armed groups. The conflict has persisted for over two decades, largely centred in the provinces of North Kivu and Ituri. According to UNHCR, over 5.5 million people, including children, have been displaced, facing severe humanitarian crises. Tens of thousands have been killed, and the conflict has seen rampant human rights abuses, including the recruitment of child soldiers (Human Rights Watch, 2023).
Darfur, Sudan
The Darfur genocide in Sudan began in 2003 when non-Arab ethnic groups rebelled against the government, accusing it of marginalisation. The Sudanese government responded with a brutal counterinsurgency campaign, often utilising Janjaweed militias.
The conflict has resulted in an estimated 300,000 deaths and displaced over 2.7 million people, according to UNHCR and OCHA. Although large-scale fighting has subsided, violence persists sporadically, with ongoing displacement and insecurity. The conflict has severely affected children, with many killed, displaced, or forced into militias. (Amnesty International, 2023).
Syria
The Syrian Civil War, which began in 2011 following anti-government protests following decades of rule by the Assad regime, has devolved into a multifaceted conflict involving government forces, various rebel groups, ISIS, and foreign powers such as Russia and the U.S. The war has claimed over 500,000 lives and displaced more than 13 million people, including nearly 6 million children, according to the UN. The conflict has created one of the worst humanitarian crises of the 21st century, with widespread destruction, the collapse of infrastructure, and countless human rights violations, including the use of chemical weapons (SOHR, Human Rights Watch, 2023); all of which causes permanent psychological and physical damage, especially in regards to vulnerable children.
While technology has the potential to raise awareness about conflict such as these and their attendant humanitarian crises, it often results in information overload, leaving people with only a superficial understanding. Without set-piece battles and government-level ministries of information, these low-level conflicts are confusing to understand and report, and hence often fail to make an impression on the global public. As such, they soon fall off our radar screen, victim to the cacophony of outrage, celebrity gossip, and clickbait that characterizes the present social media environment. This is something our non-profit, Narratives of Conflict in Colour, wishes to change.
Our organisation was founded to raise awareness about the conditions of children in conflict zones in a way that is both impactful and easily digestible - through art and storytelling. By combining emotion-driven art with informative essays, we aim to encourage deeper engagement with these critical issues. Art possesses a unique ability to educate on an emotional level, ensuring that facts don't merely pass by unnoticed but resonate and remain in people's minds.
Moreover, this initiative aims to provide a creative outlet for those directly affected by conflict and those who are simply interested in the cause. By sharing their stories and their art, these individuals can communicate their experiences in a profound way, a cathartic emotional unburdening, albeit in a creative and positive way. We plan to auction these art pieces online, with the proceeds supporting humanitarian causes that aid children in conflict zones.
Our goal is to create impactful art linked to in-depth research, offering a powerful incentive for people to learn more and take action. We believe that raising awareness is the first step towards meaningful change. The more people who understand the impact of conflict on children, the more likely we are to mobilise support and create real, lasting change.
Through Narratives of Conflict in Colour, we envision a world where no child is forced to endure the horrors of war, where awareness leads to action, and where society unites to fight for the rights and well-being of the most vulnerable among us. By shining a light on these issues and inspiring others to join the cause, we believe we can change lives - one story, one work of art at a time.
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