The recruitment, enlistment and forceful conscription of children as soldiers is a cause for grave concern all over the world and most especially in Africa, where years of factional fighting, civil wars and cross border conflicts have raged, children and youth have been pulled into violence not only as victims, but also as perpetrators. The involvement of children in war posses a severe challenge to prevailing moral and legal norms of the conduct of modern warfare. A major problem and most controversial issue, among others, is on the age at which children should be eligible to become combatants. Children, who may be viewed as a valuable resource due to their often inherent malleability, wish to avenge family member(s) killed in war, sense of immunity to danger, and or feeling of power in participating in the violence. Can the use of children as soldiers be effectively regulated in Africa? All efforts to assist child soldiers in recovering from the devastating effects of wars often unwillingly helped promote the growing number of child soldiers. This is in part because wars are now more fought internally among rebel armies and factions vying for power with the government and thus enlist children into their various armies. The study comes to a conclusion that drastic steps need to be taken to ameliorate this unfortunate situation. This formed the basis of the recommendations offered in the thesis to assist the African continent.

This thesis analyses findings from a predominantly qualitative study of young (aged 18 to 24) imprisoned fathers interviewed in prison shortly before release, some of whom were also followed into the community. The research focused on the experiences of these men in prison, and how being a young father in prison affected their attitudes to offending, fatherhood and the future. Furthermore, this work investigated how these men then reintegrated back into the community and whether they managed to fulfil their hopes for change, focussing on what factors helped or hindered this process. This research applies desistance theory and identity theory to the lived experience of young imprisoned fathers; a group that has been largely ignored in previous research. The work is informed by both social-psychological (Maruna, 2001; Farrall, 2002; Meek, 2007a) and sociological perspectives (Laub and Sampson, 2003). This thesis adds to knowledge about the process of change for young offending fathers, highlighting it to be a gradual and active process that draws on both internal and external influences. Change is a complex activity, especially for men with transient relationships and lifestyles, which relies on the fragile coincidence of many inter-connected factors. Due to the instability of many of these factors, it is a process characterised by successes and failures. This thesis argues that criminal justice policies need to support fatherhood to take full advantage of fatherhood’s desistance-potential. The findings provide evidence to support Maruna et al’s (2004a) description of a three track process of change, requiring self-determination, formal support and informal support. They also suggest the need for the additional important factors of identity transformation (Maruna, 2001; Paternoster and Bushway, 2009) in positive social and personal contexts (Farrall, 2002; Walker, 2010). Fatherhood adds an additional layer to these factors. This thesis also contributes to knowledge of how agency and structural factors interact.

No abstract available / Dissertation (LLM)--University of Pretoria, 2012. / gm2014 / Centre for Human Rights / unrestricted

No description available.

Whilst the role of Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) programs was to neutralize armed groups and restore sustainable stability in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the proliferation of armed groups witnessed between 2013 and 2018 in the Kivu region interrogate the efficacy of implemented DDR programs. The DRC faces serious setbacks in terms of socio-economic and political development due to the presence of many armed groups oscillating in the eastern parts of the country, particularly the Kivu region. This situation poses peace and security problems not for the DRC alone but for the Great Lakes region. To stabilize this region, the DRC government and its International partners employed DDR programs as mechanisms to neutralize armed groups and reinstate sustainable peace and security. However, despite these efforts, there has been a rapid increase of non-state armed groups between 2013 and 2018 and an increase in violence against civilians leading to the displacement of millions of people. This study investigates the dynamics of various factors behind the creation of armed groups, their proliferation and resistance to DDR programs. The study reveals that there have been long grievances and unresolved crises behind armed groups’ resistance in the Kivu region including ethnic antagonism and resentment between autochthonous citizens and Kinyarwanda speakers; and the socio-economic deprivation, hardship of life and feeling of marginalization by the central government. This dissertation delineates better approaches to address the problem of armed groups and succeed in future DDR programs such as the establishment of a long-term reconciliation mechanism to address ethnic resentment created by war within communities in the Kivu region; and a national development plan guaranteeing socio-economic opportunities (income generating activities) to citizens in the Kivu region. This study uses a qualitative research approach to investigate the dynamics of non-state armed groups and disarmament challenges in the DRC. / Dissertation (MA (Political Sciences))--University of Pretoria, 2020. / Mastercard Scholarship foundation / Political Sciences / MA (Political Sciences) / Unrestricted

The goal of the study was to explore the perceptions of social workers regarding their role in aftercare and reintegration towards substance-dependent persons. The research was about the quest to unlock the perceptions that social workers, both in the employ of the Gauteng Department of Social Development and SANCA, have about their role in aftercare and reintegration services. Hence, the research approach followed was qualitative. Due to the nature of the study, the researcher used focus group interviews for data collection. An interview schedule, with guiding questions, was prepared in advance. The research also aimed to make comparisons between the Gauteng Department of Social Development and SANCA findings. Consequently, two focus group interviews were conducted for Gauteng Department of Social Development and SANCA, respectively. The findings from the two focus groups conducted were packaged in three sections, namely, findings from Gauteng Department of Social Development, from SANCA Eersterust and the combined data. The key findings from the Gauteng Department of Social Development were that aftercare services were viewed as motivation of clients and providing emotional support. The causes of substance abuse relapse were due to a lack of support, boredom and stigma. There was limited knowledge amongst social workers on how relevant legislation and policies link up with aftercare and reintegration services. There was a lack of manuals or guidelines on how aftercare and reintegration services should be rendered, and lastly, there was a view from social workers that the Department of Social Development should play a leading role on issues of aftercare and reintegration services. The key findings from SANCA were that aftercare and reintegration services were more about a holistic approach. The causes of substance abuse relapse were mainly about triggers and lack of social infrastructure. The stumbling blocks for effective aftercare and reintegration services were part of an external locus of control, shortage of skills development centres and inadequate services in treatment centres. Aftercare and reintegration services should include assessment, support groups for clients and families, skills development programmes and referrals. Lastly, the role of social workers when it came to aftercare and reintegration services included case management and support. The role of the social workers both from the Gauteng Department of Social Development and SANCA according to the participating social workers were as follows: resource management, therapy, empowerment, case management and support. Recommendations were made for effective aftercare and reintegration services and for future research. The recommendations for effective aftercare and reintegration services were: (1) aftercare and reintegration services should include in their programmes sessions and activities on emotional support and motivation; (2) the holistic approach should be adopted when rendering aftercare and reintegration services to substance-dependent persons; (3) the Department of Social Development should take the lead on issues of aftercare and reintegration services and should be supported by NGOs; (4) social workers were best located and more effective as case managers for substance abuse and aftercare and reintegration services in particular; (5) specialisation of social workers in the field of substance abuse was recommended; (6) there was a need for workshops for social workers in the substance abuse field to be trained about relevant policy and legislation in the sector; (7) there was a need for a manual from the Gauteng Department of Social Development and SANCA which should sketch out the process and procedures of rendering aftercare and reintegration services to recovering substance-dependent persons. The recommendations for future research were that this study was based on social workers from the Gauteng Department of Social Development and social workers from SANCA within the jurisdiction of the Tshwane area. It was recommended that a study be conducted in other areas of South Africa to make comparisons of the data. It was established that there were various legislation and policies which deal with issues of aftercare and reintegration services. There was however, a need to determine whether such legislation and policy were in line with the needs of the substance dependent people. Lastly, it was also recommended that there should be more scientific enquiry on issues of aftercare and reintegration services in substance-dependent persons in South Africa. / Dissertation (MSW)--University of Pretoria, 2013. / lmchunu2014 / Social Work and Criminology / unrestricted

The trend of new drugs entering the drug market has intensified in South Africa. Currently in South Africa, there is a fairly new drug on the market known as nyaope which is being abused mostly by the youth in the townships. Nyaope is a drug consisting of heroin, dagga and other elements like rat poison, cleaning detergents and even crushed antiretroviral drugs. Failure to find a solution to drug abuse can lead to economic problems and handicap the social development of the country, as well as threatening the life and health of the people involved. In the South African context, the value of aftercare has been downplayed and there has been relatively little emphasis on aftercare and reintegration services in both research and practice. Therefore, it was the goal of this study to explore and describe the aftercare needs of nyaope users from both the users' and the significant others' points of view in Hammanskraal. In order to achieve this goal, a qualitative research was adopted to explore and describe the aftercare needs of nyaope users from both the users' and the significant others' points of view. Due to the nature of the study, the researcher had two sampling groups, namely (1) nyaope users and (2) significant others. The study was guided by a collective case study design. Semi-structured interviews were used as a data collection method for this study and two distinct interview schedules were developed and used for nyaope users and significant others, respectively. The researcher aimed at answering the following two research questions: (1) "Based on the views of nyaope users, what are the aftercare needs of nyaope users in the Hammanskraal community?"; and (2) "Based on the views of significant others, what are the aftercare needs of nyaope users in the Hammanskraal community?" From the raw data, the researcher implemented thematic analysis as stipulated by Braun and Clarke (2006) in analysing the data. The researcher used credibility and triangulation in establishing the trustworthiness of the data analysis. The findings from the two sets of samples were unpacked in three sections, namely, findings from the nyaope users, from significant others and the combined data with the aim of triangulation. The key findings from nyaope users and the significant others are as follows: The key findings from nyaope users were that nyaope use has a negative impact on the physical, psychological, spiritual well-being of the users. Causes of relapse were identified as a lack of support from the government and family members, personal problems that users encounter during the recovery process, going back to the same environment and being coerced to go for treatment. Furthermore, nyaope users indicated that they value the trust of community members that is often lost and can be regained by a change of lifestyles following treatment and getting volunteering opportunities in order to create awareness at local schools. The users indicated that they could achieve total abstinence if they can change the type of lifestyle they were living before, such strategies include going for treatment, adopting a more conducive and healthy lifestyle, get adequate support from their families, attending group sessions following treatment, the implementation of an adequate aftercare programme that could assist in preventing relapse, the creation of employment and spiritual support during and post treatment. The key findings from the significant others were that families are victims of theft due to nyaope users' stealing to sustain their habits. As a result significant others are left with feelings of disappointment and hurt. Nyaope also impacts negatively on family relationships in a manner that there is a lack of communication and ineffective communication among family members. The significant others identified the causes of relapse as a lack of educational programmes in communities, high unemployment rate, a lack of spiritual support, inadequate aftercare programmes and the return to the same community and friends following treatment. Significant others also indicated that nyaope users require volunteering opportunities in communities as a form of reintegration and that nyaope users need to change their lifestyles following treatment in order to regain trust from the community. Significant others recommended that nyaope users require support from family, spiritual support from spiritual leaders and psychosocial support in order for them to maintain total abstinence. / Mini Dissertation (MSW)--University of Pretoria, 2016. / Social Work and Criminology / MSW / Unrestricted

Ett stabilt boende är en grundläggande nödvändighet och en viktig förutsättning för att stärka individers välmående. En bostad är inte bara en plats för förvaring av ägodelar, utan är även nära sammankopplat med ett antal grundläggande “förmågor” som ger individer möjlighet att sköta sin hälsa och hygien, tillgodose sitt sömnbehov och upprätthålla ett socialt nätverk. På detta sätt är en stabil bostad en av de avgörande faktorerna för att en individ skall nå framgångsrik återanpassning i samhället efter avtjänat fängelsestraff. Den kriminologiska forskning som undersöker individers liv efter avtjänat fängelsestraff behandlar nästan uteslutande generella samhällskonsekvenser efter frigivning utan vidare fokus på bostadssituationen specifikt. Detta leder till en kunskapslucka på området. Mot bakgrund av denna kunskapslucka syftar vår studie till att undersöka hur bostadssituationen ser ut för individer som tidigare avtjänat ett fängelsestraff. Detta genomfördes med hjälp av semistrukturerade intervjuer med individer som tidigare avtjänat ett fängelsestraff. Vidare syftade studien till att undersöka respondenternas upplevelser av den hjälp de fått av myndigheter och organisationer gällande bostad. Resultatet visar att dessa respondenter har haft stora svårigheter att finna ett stabilt boende efter avtjänat fängelsestraff, där hög grad av mobilitet varit förekommande. Bristfälliga ekonomiska förutsättningar i form av betalningsanmärkningar och skulder var en avgörande faktor till detta. Upplevelserna kring myndigheter och organisationers hjälp har varierat bland respondenterna där både negativa och positiva erfarenheter har skildrats. / Stable housing is a necessity and an essential prerequisite for strengthening the well-being of individuals. A residence is not only a place for storing property but is also closely linked to several basic "capabilities" that allow individuals to manage their health and hygiene, meet their sleep needs and maintain a social network. In this way, a stable home is one of the decisive factors for an individual to achieve successful re-adjustment in society after serving a prison sentence. The criminological research that examines the lives of individuals after serving prison sentences deals almost exclusively with general social consequences after release without further focus on the housing situation specifically. This leads to a knowledge gap in the area. Considering this knowledge gap, our study aims to investigate what the housing situation looks like for individuals who have previously served a prison sentence. This was done with the help of semi-structured interviews with individuals who previously served a prison sentence. Furthermore, the study aimed to investigate the respondents' experiences of the assistance they received from authorities and organizations regarding housing. The results show that these respondents have had great difficulties in finding stable housing after serving prison sentences, where a high degree of mobility has occurred. Poor financial conditions in the form of payment notes and debts were a decisive factor for this. The experiences of authorities and organizations have varied among the respondents, where both negative and positive experiences have been depicted.

No description available.

No description available.