Bringing Children Home: A children’s rights approach to returning from ISIL

©Tdh / François Struzik

An estimated 4,640 children travelled to Iraq or Syria, either alone or with their families, to join the so-called Islamic State. Since the fall of the terrorist group, many of them live in displacement camps under deplorable conditions. They have not only been victims of recruitment or trafficking, but also witnessed extreme violence and indoctrination.

In this briefing Penal Reform International and partner organisations outline:

• the broad range of international human rights and humanitarian law applicable to the treatment and return of children who have lived under ISIL control or have been born in the displacement camps
• the various national responses and challenges for the return of children and people who have been recruited by ISIL as children, who lived in ISIL controlled territory or are living in displacement camps
• recommendations that PRI and partners urge States to urgently take to protect children affected.