Her war, her justice: Learning from the past to repair the lives of former girl soldiers

Resumen

Former girl soldiers stand in society as anonymous women with a particular set of challenges in their reintegration to society. This article studies these specific challenges in post-conflict nations and assesses how reparations programs have addressed –or failed to address– their unique needs. Drawing on case studies from transitional justice initiatives in Africa, Latin America and Asia, the article highlights the scope of armed conflicts and the forms of harm suffered by girl soldiers, including sexual violence, forced marriages and social stigmatization. It takes a qualitative approach in analyzing existing international and domestic reparations frameworks, emphasizing inclusivity, recognition of victimhood and the importance of tailored, transformative reparations. The article argues for reimagining reparations beyond financial compensation to include access to education, psychosocial support and community reintegration efforts. It concludes that transformative reparations are essential to repair the deep and multilayered harm suffered by former girl soldiers, particularly in supporting them to rebuild their lives and identities on their own terms. Finally, it offers concrete recommendations for designing future reparations programs that genuinely respond to the lived experiences of former girl soldiers and contribute to their long-term empowerment and healing.  Keywords: Girl soldiers; Sexual violence; Forced marriages; Social stigmatization; Reparations frameworks; Inclusivity; Recognition of victimhood