From seeking truths to seeking stories: the contribution of social sciences in the exploration of the reality of former child soldiers Online publication date: Thu, 30-Apr-2015
by Sarah Fraser; Myriam Denov; Cécile Rousseau; Marie-Laure Daxhelet
International Journal of Migration and Border Studies (IJMBS), Vol. 1, No. 3, 2014
Abstract: Former child soldiers seeking refuge within the Global North may experience a number of obstacles throughout the legal process. One major obstacle is telling one's story in a way that meets the criteria for refugee status and finds credibility among those assessing the case. Exploring the literature on narrative development as well as the literature on the reintegration of former child soldiers we lay a theoretical basis to argue that the story that former child soldiers will offer will be influenced by the social, political, cultural positions of the various systems they interact with. Our reflections bring us to the conclusion that a fair assessment of former child soldiers' experiences is one that not only looks for truths and assesses credibility but rather one that analyses the social and political forces that participate in constructing such stories in the first place, including the forces within the systems of the Global North.
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