II International Congress Girls Soldiers

Purpose
 
The presence of girls and boys in armed groups is not new, as reflected in literature and film around the world. In fact, until recently, the image of a child who, flag in hand, went into battle was seen as heroic and commendable. However, the perception of this phenomenon has changed. In 1977, regulations were introduced that generally prohibit the recruitment and use of children under 15 years old in armed conflicts. Gradually, international norms have increased protection against such behavior, whether carried out by States or non-state armed groups.

Therefore, the presence of children in armed groups and forces is now considered deplorable, and the most appropriate ways are being sought for their prevention, protection, and assistance in relation to their ties with armed forces and participation in hostilities.

However, the presence of girls in armed conflicts has become invisible. Initially, they were neither counted nor included in the group of children or women, but once their presence was recognized and the specific problems faced by girls were identified, the insufficiency of rules and projects for prevention and disengagement of girls from armed groups became evident. These rules and projects did not consider their special vulnerability, the roles they assumed, and the problem of reintegrating them into their social group. This explains why most of the measures adopted failed. States, humanitarian agencies, and NGOs are working to prevent the harm these girls face and to adopt effective measures.
However, to be successful, it is necessary to understand the regulatory gaps, implementation issues, and the effectiveness of the measures taken from a multidisciplinary perspective. Given this, we must bring forward improvement proposals or initiatives that increase the effectiveness of legal norms or policy actions in favor of these girls.

Therefore, this year’s communications aim not only to highlight what is lacking, failing, or insufficient, but also to offer proposals to address these issues from political-legal-social-psychological perspectives.

Thematic Areas

In this context, we invite the academic community, researchers, and professionals to submit communications related to the following thematic areas:
1.Recruitment: recruitment of girls from a legal and psychosocial perspective.
2.Participation of girls in hostilities, active or non-active? Treatment of girls.
3.Sexual violence against girl soldiers before, during, and after conflict.
4.IHL/IDRL protecting girls before, during, and after conflict.
5.Disarmament, disengagement, and reintegration of girls.
6.Public administrations and guaranteeing the rights of formerly associated girls. 7.International criminal law / individual responsibility for crimes against girls. 8.International law and the responsibility of States and international organizations. 9.Forms of reparation.
10.Lessons learned and good practices in DDR and other processes.

Format, Date, and Venue

On June 30 and July 1, the CEU Cardenal Herrera University, in collaboration with the Generalitat and specialized humanitarian agencies, will host 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 view of recruitment.

The event will be held, in principle, in the auditorium of the CEU Cardenal Herrera University in Valencia. The conference will also be accessible as a webinar, with registration and login information available. This international congress will focus on girl soldiers: a vulnerable and invisible group before, during, and after their association with armed groups, and will offer a multidimensional view of the recruitment, presence, and exit of girls from armed groups in armed conflicts.


Submission Requirements

Who Can Submit an Abstract?  

-Any researcher working in international law, human rights, protection and assistance to victims.
-Any specialized body working in the field of human rights, the protection and assistance to victims, as well as their disengagement from the group and reintegration into their original or a third community.

Formal requirements for abstract submission and selection

We encourage authors to submit abstracts addressing this topic under one of the following sections:
1.Recruitment: recruitment of girls from a legal and psychosocial perspective. 2.Participation of girls in hostilities, active or not? Treatment of girls.
3.Sexual violence against girl soldiers before, during, and after conflict.
4.IHL and IHRL protecting girls before, during, and after conflict.
5.Disarmament, disengagement, and reintegration of girls.
6.Public administrations and guaranteeing the rights of formerly associated girls. 7.International Criminal Law / individual responsibility for crimes against girls. 8.International law and the responsibility of States and international organizations. 9.Forms of reparation.
10.Good practices and lessons learned.

Those interested must submit a single document containing:
1. A 5-line CV/biography (max. 150 words; including current position and email address in the following order:
i) Last name followed by first name;
ii) Email address;
iii) Current position;
iv) Rest of CV/biography;

2. An abstract of 500–750 words clearly and concisely describing the intended presentation and personal contributions.

The above elements should be submitted (merged into a single Word document) with the email subject: "Call for Girl Soldiers Academic Communications [Document Title]". Abstracts and CV/biographies may be submitted in English or Spanish. The deadline for abstract submissions is May 15, 2025.

Deadline, Submission Address, and Acceptance Confirmation


Communication proposals may be submitted until May 15, 2025. Responses will be sent within 15 days of receipt and by May 30, 2025 at the latest. The link to the proposal form is: https://forms.office.com/e/nWnBCnXUE6 Abstracts (and presentations) may be in English or Spanish. For more information or questions, please contact: congresoninassoldado@uchceu.es

Oral Presentation

The best contributions, in terms of quality and originality in each section, will be selected by the Scientific Committee of the Girl Soldiers Congress, and the authors will be invited to give an oral presentation based on the submitted paper, at the conference on June 30 and July 1, 2025 (in a panel or roundtable, approximately 10 minutes).

The registration fee for the Congress will be 20 euros for all those who present a communication, both in person and online (more information available later on the UCHCEU website).

Scientific Committee
  
Our researchers have experience in both research and field work. This enriches our vision and approach in providing realistic solutions to improve the lives of girls (both soldiers and ex-soldiers):
Dr. Ruth Abril Stoffels (Dir)
Dr. Mª Carmen Quesada Alcalá (Dir)
Dr. Mª Rosario García Bellido
Dr. Claribel de Castro Sánchez
Dr. Javier García González
Dr. Mª Dolores Algora Weber
Dr. Rosario Ojinaga
Dr. Thomas Hansen
Dr. Sonia Hernández Pradas
Dr. Lucana Estévez Mendoza
Dr. Omar Ahmed Abenza
Dr. Luisa López
Dr. Pedro Páez Pirazán
Dr. Yaelle Cacho Sánchez
Dr. Gabriela de la Paz Meléndez
Dr. Abraham Abaladejo Álvarez
Dr. Andrés de Castro García
Dr. María Teresa Marcos Martín
Dr. Laura Cecilia Gamarra Amaya
Dr. Rosa María Pascual Serrats
Dr. Elena Juaristi
Ms. Sara Yildiz