About WNCAC

About WNCAC
The Washington Network on Children and Armed Conflict (WNCAC) is an informal network initiated in July 2004 by Search for Common Ground and the Displaced Children and Orphans Fund of USAID with the broad aim of improving the protection of children affected by armed conflict. There are many practitioners, advocates, US Government personnel, university faculty members, and students in the Washington D.C. area who concerned with children and adolescents affected by armed conflict, and many are unaware of each other's work. Their activities relate to such issues and areas of practice as child protection, education, and psychosocial interventions in emergencies; child soldiers; separated children; humanitarian relief, post-conflict development; conflict resolution; and peace building.

WNCAC's objectives are to:

• Promote dialogue on programming and policy issues, funding opportunities, developments in the field, resources, and good practices;
• Facilitate information exchange among participants; and
• Build connections and provide opportunities for collaboration among the diverse set of actors engaged with children and armed conflict issues.

WNACAC was initiated to increase the effectiveness of its participants in their own work rather than to engage them in activities the Network would initiate. It is expected that WNCAC participants will be the Network's most immediate beneficiaries, but increasing their effectiveness serves the ultimate aim of improving the safety and well being of children affected by armed conflict. Advocacy was specifically excluded from the Network's objectives in the interest of including as diverse a group of actors as possible and enabling them to exchange information freely and, hopefully, find ways to work together.

WNCAC has grown to include over 170 individuals on its e-mail last for information exchange. It convenes bi-monthly meetings at the office of Search for Common Ground (1601 Connecticut Avenue, N.W. on Dupont Circle). These meetings include brief, topic-focused presentations; discussion of questions related to the topic; and an opportunity to sharing information on any new resources, upcoming events, and other matters related to children and armed conflict. Some of the topics that have been addressed include:

• Education in complex emergencies,
• Youth in conflict: Peacebuilding and protection,
• Development of an international reporting mechanism on violations of children's rights during armed conflict,
• Children's participation in the context of conflict,
• The process to revise and update the Cape Town Principles on child soldiers,
• Small Arms and children affected by armed conflict, and
• HIV/AIDS and children affected by armed-conflict.

During each meeting, participants are invited to share information, discuss divergent opinions, and identify opportunities for cooperation. WNCAC provides a forum to explore contentious policy issues that arise in the field, and it encourages participants to exchange information directly via e-mail between meetings. WNCAC also organizes special events, such as the presentation by Lt. Gen (ret.) Romeo Dallaire June 7th of last year on his efforts to address from a military perspective the prevention of children's recruitment by armed groups or militaries.

The Network's diversity has been its primary strength - improving information exchange among actors who otherwise do not come in contact and enabling those with different perspectives to identify their common interests and act cooperatively.