A House with Two Rooms - The Advocates for Human Rights

education, such as adult literacy classes or evening classes, should be offered to children who
cannot or do not wish to enter the formal educational system. 102
Programs for Vulnerable Groups: Girls Associated with Armed Groups
The Advocates suggests that the Government of Liberia implement the following measures with
regard to Girls Associated with Armed Forces. The following recommendations are drawn from The
Paris Principles 103 and reports produced by Amnesty International 104 and Development Alternatives,
Inc. 105 Additionally, The Advocates recommends the following:
• Ensure that staff working with girls associated with armed forces “are familiar with Security
Council Resolution 1325, as well as, relevant international guidelines to provide for a gendered
approach to both implementation and planning;” 106
• Ensure that gender appropriate information campaigns as well as access to female employees
are made available to women and girls by collaborating with women’s organizations. 107
• Ensure that specific gender dynamics regarding access to accommodations are considered, 108
including reproductive health care, separate washing facilities, hygiene kits, and clean birthing
kits. Measures should be taken to provide and guarantee safety and protection, including
proper lighting as well as regular surveillance and patrolling by security forces.
• Ensure that psychosocial counseling is made available in communities to all who need it. 109
Care should be taken to assist girls in addressing whether they desire to recognize or reject
relationships established with a member of an armed group.
• Ensure that education and training programs related to parenting skills and child health, as
well as training unrelated to reproductive status, be made available and accessible. 110
• Provide nutrition and health care for infants and young children, as well as child care, to
allow women and girls to participate in training and education. 111
• Ensure that communities are part of the reintegration, reconciliation, and healing process. 112
Work with community leaders and groups to establish a forum to address stigmatization
and increase public awareness of reintegration issues, including substance abuse, HIV/AIDS,
STIs, obstetric fistula, and sexual violence. 113
• Use business and skill training to improve the overall livelihood of women. Ensure that
access to credit and/or capital is available to supplement these trainings. 114
• Ensure that women and girls have access to quality career counseling which allows them to
make choices that will maximize their options and lead them to choose marketable vocational
skills. 115
• Adopt flexibility to adapt to the range of needs specific to each victim, and ensure that
programs are accessible to women experiencing particular health problems related to their
experience of the conflict. 116
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