CALL for Proposals and Artistic Expressions


1) Protection of Victims
2) Artistic Expressions Related to Girl Soldiers

The presence of girls and boys in armed groups is not something new, as reflected in literature and cinema throughout the world. In fact, until recently the figure of this minor who, flag in hand, threw himself into combat was seen as something heroic and praiseworthy. However, the perception of this phenomenon has changed. In 1977, a regulation appeared that generally prohibits the recruitment and use of children under 15 years of age in armed conflicts and, little by little, international standards are increasing protection against such behaviour, both when it is carried out by States and by non-State armed groups.

Thus, the presence of boys and girls in armed groups and forces is now seen as a deplorable phenomenon, and the most suitable ways are being sought for their prevention, as well as their protection and assistance in relation to their links with the armed forces and their participation in hostilities.

However, the presence of girls in armed conflicts has been made invisible. Initially, they were not counted or included in the group of children or women, but when this presence became known and the specific problems faced by girls were detected, the inadequacy of the norms and projects for the prevention and disassociation of girls from armed groups was highlighted. These rules and projects did not take into account their special vulnerability, the roles they assumed and the problem of their reintegration into their social group. This explains why most of the measures adopted failed. States, humanitarian agencies, and NGOs are working to prevent the harm faced by these girls and to adopt effective measures. However, for this to be fruitful, it is necessary to know the failures and regulatory gaps, the problems of implementation of projects, as well as to address the effectiveness of the measures taken from a multidisciplinary perspective.

To this end, this congress has two calls for papers:

Academic proposals dealing with this topic, specifically:

     1. Recruitment-enlistment of girls legal and psychosocial perspective.
2. Participation of girls in hostilities, active or not active? Treatment of girls.
     3. Sexual violence against girl soldiers before, during and after the conflict.
     4. IHL/IDRL protecting girls before, during and after the conflict.
     5. Disarmament, disengagement, and reincorporation of girls.
     6. Public administrations and guarantee of the rights of girls who have been disengaged girls.
     7. International criminal law/individuals' responsibility for crimes against girls crimes against girls
     8. International Law and Responsibility of States and International Organizations International Organizations
     9. Modalities of reparation
     10. Lessons learned and good practices in DDR processes.

Communication proposal link:
https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=7w4zNL4x0UySX qeQrHItMKPm4_IQWRxPv30fuj2FXXRUNFdaMEdVUkxIUjRVSTBQWlJHR lNHSEFEMy4u 

• Contest of ARTISTIC EXPRESSIONS/WORKS related to girl soldiers, taking into consideration that the music, art and culture that can raise awareness, inspire and enhance the protection and assistance of girls associated with armed groups. This call reflects the crucial need to implement not only human rights policies (which reflect the best interests of the child and violence against women, as well as them and discrimination against women) but also numerous standards, at global, regional and national levels, that deepen and broaden the protection.

Artistic proposal link:
https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=7w4zNL4x0UySXqeQrHItMKPm4_IQWRxPv30fuj2FXXRUM1Y1OE9HVVRKQk9GTFpPSjgyUkE5WUxTVi4u

When and where

On November 4,5 and 6, Cardenal Herrera University, with the collaboration of the Generalitat and specialized humanitarian agencies will hold an international conference to address the challenge of Girl soldiers: a vulnerable and invisible group before, during and after their association with armed groups. A multidimensional look at recruitment.

The event will be held at the auditorium of the Cardenal Herrera University in Valencia. The conference will also be accessible as a webinar, with registration and login information. This international congress will focus on Girl Soldiers: a vulnerable and invisible group before, during and after their association with armed groups, and will take a multidimensional view of recruitment. In this way, the organization has also designed a call for Artistic Expressions related to girl soldiers.

I. Call for ACADEMIC PROPOSALS on the problem of girl soldiers

Who can submit an abstract?

- Any researcher working on international law, human rights, protection and assistance to victims.
- Human Rights, protection and assistance to victims and prevention of conscription and wishes to present their work at this congress.

Abstract submission and selection

We encourage authors to submit abstracts that address this theme, under one of the following headings:

     1. Recruitment-enlistment of girls, from a legal and psychosocial perspective.
     2. Participation of girls in hostilities, active or not active? Treatment of girls.
     3. Sexual violence against girl soldiers before, during and after the conflict.
     4. IHL/IDRL that protects girls before, during and after the conflict.
     5. Disarmament, disengagement, and reincorporation of girls.
     6. Public administrations and guarantee of the rights of girls who have been disengaged girls.
     7. International Criminal Law/individual responsibility for crimes against girls.
     8. International Law and responsibility of States and International Organizations.
     9. Modalities of reparations.
     10. Good practises and lessons learned.

Those interested in presenting should submit a single document: (form attached)

     1) A five-line CV/biography (maximum 150 words; including current position and email address in the following sequence:

i)Last name followed by first name;
ii) e-mail address;
iii) current position;
iv) rest of CV/biography; v) Current position;
iv) rest of CV/bio)

     2) An abstract of 500-750 words that provides a clear and concise description of the intended presentation and personal contributions.

The above items should be submitted (merged into a single Word document) the subject of the e-mail : Call for Academic Communications girls soldier [Title of the paper]". Abstracts and curriculum vitae/biography should be sent in English or Spanish. The deadline for submission of abstracts is June 15, 2024.

Summary form:
https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=7w4zNL4x0UySXqeQrHItMKPm4_IQWRxPv30fuj2FXXRUNFdaMEdVUkxIUjRVSTBQWlJHRlNHSEFEMy4u

The 4 best contributions, in terms of quality and originality in each of the will be selected by the Scientific Committee of the Congress of Girl Soldiers and the Scientific Committee and the authors will be invited to make an oral presentation, on the basis of the submitted paper, at the conference on 4,5 and 6 of November 2024 (in a panel or round table discussion,,approx. 10-15 minutes).

Successful applicants will be informed by July 1, 2024.
Abstracts (and presentations) can be in English or Spanish. For more information or questions, please contact: congresoninassoldado@uchceu.es

II. CALL FOR ARTISTIC EXPRESSIONS RELATED TO CHILD SOLDIERS WITH GIRL SOLDIERS

The Call for Artistic Expressions Related to Girl Soldiers seeks to compile relevant musical and cultural aesthetic pieces that can contribute to disseminate information to raise awareness about the situation of girl soldiers and to inspire actors to work for the protection and assistance of these girls.

Who can submit Artistic Expressions/Works?

Any researcher, student, activist, or ally who works on the prevention, protection and and assistance of girl soldiers, as well as their disarmament, demobilization and disarmament, and reintegration.

Submission and artistic selection

We encourage authors to submit artistic expressions that visualize the invisibility of girls, the problems and the invisibility of girls, the problems, and challenges they face both in their recruitment and participation as well as in their subsequent reintegration or return to the home including the following media:

• Visuals and/or audios: Paintings, Drawings, Posters, Graphic design, Cartoons
• Cartoons, Short films, etc. (no longer than 10 minutes).
• Musical: Songs, Orchestrations (not to exceed 10 minutes)
• Lyrical: Poetry, Odes, Storytelling (not to exceed 100 words)
• Tangible: Sculpture, Textile Arts and others.
• Any other media that can be shared with an audience on a hybrid platform.
• hybrid platform.

          Those interested in sharing their work and artistic vision should send:

1) A five-line CV/bio resume, maximum 150 words; including current position and e-mail address in the following sequence:

i) Last name followed by first name;
ii) email address;
iii) current position;
iv) remainder of CV/bio.

     2) A brief description supporting the artistic expression (explaining the meaning; not to exceed 100 words), which can be integrated in the previous document (1) or merged with the image or recording of the original piece (2).

     3) An image (pdf, jpeg), recording (mp3 or mp4) (not to exceed 10 minutes) of your original piece, a recording (mp3 or mp4) (not to exceed 10 minutes) of your original piece, a sculpture, a sculpture of no more than 30cms, a textile artwork or any other work that can be considered as an artistic work.

The above works should be sent to congresoninassoldado@uchceu.es with the subject of the e-mail "Call for artistic expressions for girls soldier”: [Title of Artistic Expression]". All artworks must be submitted in English or in English or Spanish no later than June 15, 2024.

The Girl Soldiers Congress Committee will select a winner of the GIRLS SOLDIERS/UCHCEU Artistic Award winner for each category (visual/audio, musical, lyrical, tangible, and other), will receive a special diploma certified by the UCHCEU. These award-winning pieces, along with a representation of the rest of the participating artistic expressions, will be exhibited at the event on November 4, 5 and 6 (through posters, photographs, videos, audio materials, or exhibition in solid structures) and on the Congress website.

The awarded applicants will be informed before October 1.

Job submission form:
https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=7w4zNL4x0UySXqeQrHItMKPm4_IQWRxPv30fuj2FXXRUM1Y1OE9HVVRKQk9GTFpPSjgyUkE5WUxTVi4u

III. ORGANIZATION

For further information or questions, please contact ninassoldado@uchceu.es.

The GAAG research group: Andrés de Castro, Carmen Quesada Alcalá, Dolores Algora, Elena Juaristi Besalduch, Gabriela de la Paz Melendez, Javier García González, Laura C. Gamarra, Lucana Esteve Mendoza, Monserrat Abad Castelos, Olga Martín Ortega, Omar Ahmed, Pedro Páez, Rosa Pascual Serrats, Rosario García Bellido, Rosario Ojinaga Ruiz, Ruth Abril, Sonia Hernández Pradas, Teresa Marcos, Thomas Hansen, Yaelle Cacho.

• Honorary Committee

Manuel Perez Gonzalez, Jose Luis Rodriguez Villasante

• Scientific Committee girl soldier issues

Sonia Hernández, Rosario Ojinaga, Olga Martín Ortega, Ruth Abril, Carmen Quesada, Rosa García Bellido, Luisa López, Laura Gamarra, Andrés de Castro, Javier García

• Arts Committee

Professor Elvira Garcia Professor of journalism at UCHCEU and pianist Professor Manuel Bañó Professor of industrial design uchceu Professor Sara Barquero Doctor of Fine Arts, professor at the UCHCEU Ángeles Ibarra Mendiola composer and music professor Francisco Javier Quesada Alcalá Professor of Artistic Disciplines

• Organizing Committee

• Academic and Artistic Areas

- Directors: Ruth Abril Stoffels and Carmen Quesada Alcalá
- General Coordinator of Logistics, Communications and Social Networks:
- Coordinator of the Call for Communications:
- Coordinator of the Call for Artistic Expressions Related to Girl Soldier Girls.

• Administrative Area

congresoninassoldado@uchceu.es