Securitising children rights: victims and heirs of terrorism. A critical analysis of France’s approach to children of foreign terrorist fighters
Securitising children rights: victims and heirs of terrorism. A critical analysis of France’s approach to children of foreign terrorist fighters
Date
2020
Authors
Caruana, Deborah
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Abstract
The complex reality of children of ISIS foreign terrorist fighters stranded in inhumane
camps in Syria presents an unprecedent phenomenon but one for which a rights-based approach
exists under the international child protection framework. As children affected by armed
conflict and terrorism, they must be protected primarily as victims. Yet, their countries of origin
are failing to respect their international obligations and lack the political will to repatriate,
rehabilitate and (re)integrate them back in a safe environment according to the children’s best
interests. A critical case-study analysis of France’s approach reveals how a securitised response
to these children is not allowing for a rights-based approach to even be considered. Through a
dialectic relationship between political discourse, public opinion and media coverage, a climate
of fear from exceptional terrorism threats and misinformed inflammatory discourse
surrounding radicalisation has led to dehumanising and exclusionary narratives which situate
the terrorist outside the bounds of humanity or protection of law. These children are inheriting
the effects of such narratives by being identified as terrorists themselves and being failed
recognition of their dual victim status as children and child soldiers under international law.
Keywords: children rights, discourse, foreign terrorist fighters, radicalisation, security.
Description
Second semester University: University College Dublin - National University of Ireland. Awarded thesis 2019/2020
Keywords
children rights,
victims,
terrorism,
international obligations,
security,
France,
child soldiers,
radicalism