so what were you doing when you were 15 years old at 15 Justin Bieber had just
years old at 15 Justin Bieber had just
years old at 15 Justin Bieber had just released his first song which became
released his first song which became
released his first song which became certified platinum in the United States
certified platinum in the United States
certified platinum in the United States the current Dalai Lama at 15 years of
the current Dalai Lama at 15 years of
the current Dalai Lama at 15 years of age found himself to be the undisputed
age found himself to be the undisputed
age found himself to be the undisputed leader of six million people when I was
leader of six million people when I was
leader of six million people when I was 15 years old I was just daydreaming
15 years old I was just daydreaming
15 years old I was just daydreaming about the day my braces would finally
about the day my braces would finally
about the day my braces would finally come off and that cute boy in physics
come off and that cute boy in physics
come off and that cute boy in physics would finally ask me out children were
would finally ask me out children were
would finally ask me out children were doing different things at 15 years of
doing different things at 15 years of
doing different things at 15 years of age I’m sure that time brings back
age I’m sure that time brings back
age I’m sure that time brings back memories for you too of being vulnerable
memories for you too of being vulnerable
memories for you too of being vulnerable powerful or afraid this is mohamed ahmed
powerful or afraid this is mohamed ahmed
powerful or afraid this is mohamed ahmed ismail he’s 15 years old he lives in a
ismail he’s 15 years old he lives in a
ismail he’s 15 years old he lives in a remand center a glorified prison in Iraq
remand center a glorified prison in Iraq
remand center a glorified prison in Iraq last August Mohammad was found with a
last August Mohammad was found with a
last August Mohammad was found with a suicide belt wrapped around his waist he
suicide belt wrapped around his waist he
suicide belt wrapped around his waist he had been instructed by the terrorist
had been instructed by the terrorist
had been instructed by the terrorist organization Islamic state to blow
organization Islamic state to blow
organization Islamic state to blow himself up outside a football stadium
himself up outside a football stadium
himself up outside a football stadium his father and his uncle were both
his father and his uncle were both
his father and his uncle were both members of the same group his other 15
members of the same group his other 15
members of the same group his other 15 year old cousin blew himself up in a
year old cousin blew himself up in a
year old cousin blew himself up in a nearly identical mission not very far
nearly identical mission not very far
nearly identical mission not very far away
despite being trained for months both
despite being trained for months both militarily and in religious terms and
militarily and in religious terms and
militarily and in religious terms and despite being told by the Islamic state
despite being told by the Islamic state
despite being told by the Islamic state that if he would go through with this
that if he would go through with this
that if he would go through with this mission Muhammad would die and become a
mission Muhammad would die and become a
mission Muhammad would die and become a martyr when the time came to push the
martyr when the time came to push the
martyr when the time came to push the button something in Mohammed resisted
button something in Mohammed resisted
button something in Mohammed resisted and he found he couldn’t do it that’s
and he found he couldn’t do it that’s
and he found he couldn’t do it that’s when security authorities detained him
when security authorities detained him
when security authorities detained him in the remand Center where Mohammed
in the remand Center where Mohammed
in the remand Center where Mohammed lives
lives
lives he often gathers together other child
he often gathers together other child
he often gathers together other child inmates and leads them in prayer
inmates and leads them in prayer
inmates and leads them in prayer lecturing them on the radical Islam he
lecturing them on the radical Islam he
lecturing them on the radical Islam he learned in his childhood spent in the
learned in his childhood spent in the
learned in his childhood spent in the Islamic state there is currently no
Islamic state there is currently no
Islamic state there is currently no rehabilitation program at the center to
rehabilitation program at the center to
rehabilitation program at the center to address Muhammad’s radicalization there
address Muhammad’s radicalization there
address Muhammad’s radicalization there is no relief from the constant mental
is no relief from the constant mental
is no relief from the constant mental torture that he faces every single day
torture that he faces every single day
torture that he faces every single day sadly Muhammad is not the only child in
sadly Muhammad is not the only child in
sadly Muhammad is not the only child in this situation in 2015 alone the Islamic
this situation in 2015 alone the Islamic
this situation in 2015 alone the Islamic state abducted between 800 to 900
state abducted between 800 to 900
state abducted between 800 to 900 children from the ages of 9 to 15 in
children from the ages of 9 to 15 in
children from the ages of 9 to 15 in Mosul in Iraq this Yazidi boy abducted
Mosul in Iraq this Yazidi boy abducted
Mosul in Iraq this Yazidi boy abducted from Sinjar in Iraq and often seen
from Sinjar in Iraq and often seen
from Sinjar in Iraq and often seen playing with guns and training
playing with guns and training
playing with guns and training militarily in Islamic state propaganda
militarily in Islamic state propaganda
militarily in Islamic state propaganda videos is one of them all too often
videos is one of them all too often
videos is one of them all too often these children are used as human shields
these children are used as human shields
these children are used as human shields as spies as guards as messengers and as
as spies as guards as messengers and as
as spies as guards as messengers and as martyrs so here are some questions for
martyrs so here are some questions for
martyrs so here are some questions for you how much choice do Mohammed and
you how much choice do Mohammed and
you how much choice do Mohammed and other children have why should we care
other children have why should we care
other children have why should we care and if we do care what can we do about
and if we do care what can we do about
and if we do care what can we do about it
it
it my name is Nikita Malik I’ve spent my
my name is Nikita Malik I’ve spent my
my name is Nikita Malik I’ve spent my career researching the use of children
career researching the use of children
career researching the use of children by terrorist organizations particularly
by terrorist organizations particularly
by terrorist organizations particularly by Islamic state I’ve advised
by Islamic state I’ve advised
by Islamic state I’ve advised governments around the world about
governments around the world about
governments around the world about potential policy solutions to these
potential policy solutions to these
potential policy solutions to these issues I would like to provide some
issues I would like to provide some
issues I would like to provide some insight to you today so let’s start with
insight to you today so let’s start with
insight to you today so let’s start with question one how much choice did
question one how much choice did
question one how much choice did Mohammed have when he found himself with
Mohammed have when he found himself with
Mohammed have when he found himself with a suicide belt around his waist when he
a suicide belt around his waist when he
a suicide belt around his waist when he was told to become a martyr for MA for
was told to become a martyr for MA for
was told to become a martyr for MA for Muhammad and other child soldiers like
Muhammad and other child soldiers like
Muhammad and other child soldiers like him the journey begins in the classroom
him the journey begins in the classroom
him the journey begins in the classroom however this classroom is not your
however this classroom is not your
however this classroom is not your ordinary classroom
ordinary classroom
ordinary classroom the Islamic state has a systematic
the Islamic state has a systematic
the Islamic state has a systematic process to win the hearts and minds of
process to win the hearts and minds of
process to win the hearts and minds of the next generation of jihadists they
the next generation of jihadists they
the next generation of jihadists they see each child as a blank slate where
see each child as a blank slate where
see each child as a blank slate where any idea however violent or extreme can
any idea however violent or extreme can
any idea however violent or extreme can be passed history textbooks for example
be passed history textbooks for example
be passed history textbooks for example only teach Islamic history and nothing
only teach Islamic history and nothing
only teach Islamic history and nothing else
else
else physical education classes are renamed
physical education classes are renamed
physical education classes are renamed jihadist training and focus on the
jihadist training and focus on the
jihadist training and focus on the assembly use and storage of light
assembly use and storage of light
assembly use and storage of light weapons if a child refuses to conform
weapons if a child refuses to conform
weapons if a child refuses to conform they don’t get your regular timeout or
they don’t get your regular timeout or
they don’t get your regular timeout or detention rather these children are
detention rather these children are
detention rather these children are flogged tortured and raped the prolonged
flogged tortured and raped the prolonged
flogged tortured and raped the prolonged exposure and normalization of violence
exposure and normalization of violence
exposure and normalization of violence that these children experience mean that
that these children experience mean that
that these children experience mean that concepts are just killing yourself to
concepts are just killing yourself to
concepts are just killing yourself to become a martyr become completely
become a martyr become completely
become a martyr become completely normalized it also means that they
normalized it also means that they
normalized it also means that they suffer from severe mental physical and
suffer from severe mental physical and
suffer from severe mental physical and cognitive difficulties later on because
cognitive difficulties later on because
cognitive difficulties later on because as I’m sure we all know children are
as I’m sure we all know children are
as I’m sure we all know children are less likely to question authority so the
less likely to question authority so the
less likely to question authority so the second question why should we care
second question why should we care
second question why should we care unfortunately the status quo is such
unfortunately the status quo is such
unfortunately the status quo is such that Muhammad and other children like
that Muhammad and other children like
that Muhammad and other children like him are likely to spend their entire
him are likely to spend their entire
him are likely to spend their entire lives in detention often in solitary
lives in detention often in solitary
lives in detention often in solitary confinement the current generation of
confinement the current generation of
confinement the current generation of fighters in Islamic state see children
fighters in Islamic state see children
fighters in Islamic state see children as better and more lethal fighters than
as better and more lethal fighters than
as better and more lethal fighters than themselves this is because rather than
themselves this is because rather than
themselves this is because rather than converting to a radical ideology these
converting to a radical ideology these
converting to a radical ideology these children are born and indoctrinated into
children are born and indoctrinated into
children are born and indoctrinated into extreme values as the Islamic state
extreme values as the Islamic state
extreme values as the Islamic state loses territory in Iraq and Syria it is
loses territory in Iraq and Syria it is
loses territory in Iraq and Syria it is likely that even more children will be
likely that even more children will be
likely that even more children will be detained for the children who went from
detained for the children who went from
detained for the children who went from the UK Europe and beyond many of them
the UK Europe and beyond many of them
the UK Europe and beyond many of them are likely to return those who are
are likely to return those who are
are likely to return those who are unable to return will use smuggling
unable to return will use smuggling
unable to return will use smuggling networks to do so unless we effectively
networks to do so unless we effectively
networks to do so unless we effectively find and demobilize these children they
find and demobilize these children they
find and demobilize these children they also present a security threat
so how then do we build bridges to reach
so how then do we build bridges to reach these children how do we tap into
these children how do we tap into
these children how do we tap into children like Muhammad’s resilience to
children like Muhammad’s resilience to
children like Muhammad’s resilience to indoctrination what can we do about it
indoctrination what can we do about it
indoctrination what can we do about it the essence of any solution is to create
the essence of any solution is to create
the essence of any solution is to create a sense of normality for these children
a sense of normality for these children
a sense of normality for these children at the first instance this will involve
at the first instance this will involve
at the first instance this will involve a deep and thorough risk assessment
a deep and thorough risk assessment
a deep and thorough risk assessment because each child and each case will be
because each child and each case will be
because each child and each case will be unique traditional approaches have
unique traditional approaches have
unique traditional approaches have focused on three steps DDR
focused on three steps DDR
focused on three steps DDR demobilization disarmament and
demobilization disarmament and
demobilization disarmament and reintegration
reintegration
reintegration however case studies we have researched
however case studies we have researched
however case studies we have researched historically which look at children who
historically which look at children who
historically which look at children who have exited the Taliban in Afghanistan
have exited the Taliban in Afghanistan
have exited the Taliban in Afghanistan and Pakistan for example find that
and Pakistan for example find that
and Pakistan for example find that children continue to face trauma even
children continue to face trauma even
children continue to face trauma even when they have reengaged with civilian
when they have reengaged with civilian
when they have reengaged with civilian life this can manifest itself in
life this can manifest itself in
life this can manifest itself in regressing reenacting violence or
regressing reenacting violence or
regressing reenacting violence or becoming increasingly antisocial and
becoming increasingly antisocial and
becoming increasingly antisocial and disengaged therefore we need to add to
disengaged therefore we need to add to
disengaged therefore we need to add to these DDR approaches we need to add
these DDR approaches we need to add
these DDR approaches we need to add elements of D radicalization and
elements of D radicalization and
elements of D radicalization and re-education in order to counter the
re-education in order to counter the
re-education in order to counter the years of rain washing about martyrdom
years of rain washing about martyrdom
years of rain washing about martyrdom that these children would have
that these children would have
that these children would have experienced and the impact of violence
experienced and the impact of violence
experienced and the impact of violence that would have affected them religious
that would have affected them religious
that would have affected them religious scholars former extremists practitioners
scholars former extremists practitioners
scholars former extremists practitioners and researchers all have a remarkable
and researchers all have a remarkable
and researchers all have a remarkable role to play in informing any of these
role to play in informing any of these
role to play in informing any of these approaches this is all new the space is
approaches this is all new the space is
approaches this is all new the space is relatively innovative we can also rely
relatively innovative we can also rely
relatively innovative we can also rely on things like sports therapy the use of
on things like sports therapy the use of
on things like sports therapy the use of play the use of storytelling and rituals
play the use of storytelling and rituals
play the use of storytelling and rituals in order to give back these children
in order to give back these children
in order to give back these children some semblance of their childhood what
some semblance of their childhood what
some semblance of their childhood what questions would we need to ask for
questions would we need to ask for
questions would we need to ask for example if a child was to come back to
example if a child was to come back to
example if a child was to come back to the UK from the Caliphate tomorrow
the UK from the Caliphate tomorrow
the UK from the Caliphate tomorrow we’d need to assess at the very least
we’d need to assess at the very least
we’d need to assess at the very least the age of the child whether the child
the age of the child whether the child
the age of the child whether the child voluntarily joined the group or was
voluntarily joined the group or was
voluntarily joined the group or was coerced into doing so whether they
coerced into doing so whether they
coerced into doing so whether they voluntarily exited it what about the
voluntarily exited it what about the
voluntarily exited it what about the child’s family can they be reintegrated
child’s family can they be reintegrated
child’s family can they be reintegrated with them
with them
with them or are they too radicalized these are
or are they too radicalized these are
or are they too radicalized these are all essential questions to ask
all essential questions to ask
all essential questions to ask however while conventions in theory
however while conventions in theory
however while conventions in theory continue to be formed in this space the
continue to be formed in this space the
continue to be formed in this space the sad reality is that muhammad’ and other
sad reality is that muhammad’ and other
sad reality is that muhammad’ and other children like him face very little
children like him face very little
children like him face very little access to such approaches at all unless
access to such approaches at all unless
access to such approaches at all unless things change the center where muhammad
things change the center where muhammad
things change the center where muhammad and other children find themselves mean
and other children find themselves mean
and other children find themselves mean that they are likely to be subject to
that they are likely to be subject to
that they are likely to be subject to torture physical and mental humiliation
torture physical and mental humiliation
torture physical and mental humiliation on a daily basis what then do we do the
on a daily basis what then do we do the
on a daily basis what then do we do the bridges to reach them do we build them
bridges to reach them do we build them
bridges to reach them do we build them or do we burn them do we heal these
or do we burn them do we heal these
or do we burn them do we heal these children or do we abandon them in its
children or do we abandon them in its
children or do we abandon them in its famous book 1984 George Orwell wrote of
famous book 1984 George Orwell wrote of
famous book 1984 George Orwell wrote of pain you can wish only one thing that it
pain you can wish only one thing that it
pain you can wish only one thing that it should stop as a society our collective
should stop as a society our collective
should stop as a society our collective mission should be to continue to stop
mission should be to continue to stop
mission should be to continue to stop the use of children both by non-state
the use of children both by non-state
the use of children both by non-state armed groups but especially by terrorist
armed groups but especially by terrorist
armed groups but especially by terrorist organizations a childhood should be
organizations a childhood should be
organizations a childhood should be carefree not a nightmare from which you
carefree not a nightmare from which you
carefree not a nightmare from which you can never wake up let’s make sure these
can never wake up let’s make sure these
can never wake up let’s make sure these children aren’t made prisoners of their
children aren’t made prisoners of their
children aren’t made prisoners of their childhood thank you
”
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