This policy brief examines the challenges of implementing gender-sensitive and age-appropriate approaches to the rehabilitation and reintegration of children returning fromterritory controlled by Da’esh (i.e., the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant). Drawing on desk research, practitioner engagement, and comparative analysis across several European countries, it highlights persistent gaps between normative commitments to gender mainstreaming and actual practice in returnee management.
The paper analyses how children’s experiences in conflict zones are shaped by both gender and age, including exposure to violence, radicalisation, family dynamics, and gendered expectations within extremist settings. It demonstrates that gender-blind returnee frameworks risk overlooking differentiated vulnerabilities, needs, and pathways to recovery for boys and girls.
The paper concludes by calling for specialised training, gender-sensitive contextual analysis, and integrated multi-sectoral responses to ensure that rehabilitation and reintegration efforts address both the immediate protection needs and long-term wellbeing of child returnees.