Building off a gap in the literature around children with perceived affiliation to terrorist groups, this article utilises Bronfenbrenner’s bioecological systems model to help distinguish the current challenges faced by children from ISIS-affiliated families in Iraq. It considers the implications of familial affiliation in areas including family life, education, camp and detention settings, media coverage, returning to their communities, and legal aspects. It also considers which of these features are shared with ISIS-affiliated children outside of Iraq. The aim is to create a stronger and shared baseline for understanding the unique features of such children, and how their healthy development may be negatively or positively impacted on multiple levels when their family is affiliated with a terror group. In turn, this understanding can better shape and target the interventions or support they may receive in response to these.
Access the full resource here.
