Despite the push and pull factors they stayed: A secondary data analysis of ecological causes, consequences and responses to girl soldiering in Africa

Notwithstanding robust international legislative frameworks underpinning the prohibition of child soldiering, the number of at-risk girls and boys continues to grow, with girl soldiering remaining a particularly neglected area. Through a secondary data analysis, this article critically analyses some of the key contributing factors and consequences of girl soldiering in Africa as well as prevention and response measures. Analysis is theoretically grounded in Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory and a child rights-based approach. The findings point towards a complex interplay of various elements within and across different system levels engaging multiple actors, where girls’ rights to participation are often pushed aside. It is argued that for the complexities of girl soldiering to be better addressed, an effective operationalization of a systems approach is needed. To this end, an Ecological Systems Model of Prevention and Response Measures to Girl Soldiering, where communities and girls’ voices are of central importance, is proposed.