In partnership with XCEPT and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
Executive Summary
Wilton Park, in partnership with the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and the XCEPT team at King’s College London, hosted a dialogue on “Conflict trauma and youth”. This event showcased new research and innovative practice centred on the impact of childhood and youth trauma on conflict recovery and prevention, particularly in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The conference brought together a diverse group of experts, including practitioners, diplomats, mediators, psychologists, cognitive scientists, conflict researchers and policymakers to discuss interdisciplinary approaches to addressing the psychological impacts of conflict and violence.
Key issues raised included the importance of integrating social and psychological considerations into policymaking, the challenges of applying Western-centric frameworks to non-Western contexts, and the need for interventions to be tailored to situation-specific needs of children and youth. The conference highlighted the critical role of addressing adverse childhood experiences and the long-term impact of trauma on personal and societal development. It also emphasised the need for holistic, community-based approaches that combine individual mental health and psychosocial support with broader political and social initiatives. Based on these areas of discussion, participants developed the following recommendations and action points:
- The need for developing human-centred approaches that are attuned to the emotional and psychological needs of children and young people affected by conflict, with a particular focus on preventing cycles of violence through early intervention. This includes establishing community-based mental health institutions, training counsellors, and ensuring that support services are trauma-informed and culturally sensitive.
- To be effective, mental health and psychosocial interventions should be integrated in holistic programming that addresses the broader needs of young people and their families, such as housing, livelihoods, health, justice, etc.
- Stronger localisation of policies and interventions to specific cultural contexts and communities.
- Enhancing collaboration with local experts and organisations, and supporting innovative forms of engagement, including the use of social media and communal capacity building.
- Encouraging youth participation in peacebuilding and conflict resolution, recognising their role as positive agents of change.
- Committing to longer-term sustained funding of conflict prevention, mental health support, and community development, including enabling local partners to play an equal role or lead on programming
- Establishing a focus on the gender dynamics of interventions in response to the different needs of youth populations.
This report is organised by these key themes and lists aspects that garnered the most discussion, as well as specific proposals and outcomes for addressing the psychological and political challenges of conflict trauma and youth in the MENA region.