This essay examines how children's right to play promotes inner peace and social reintegration in war-affected communities, highlighting its role in healing trauma.
Our conflict-torn world urgently needs not only a ceasefire, but also a sustained and determined pursuit of positive peace, especially among the most vulnerable, war-affected populations. Adopting a human rights-based approach, this essay explores the role of children's right to play as an instrument of inner and social peace-making for the youngest victims of war. Through its therapeutic potential, play can contribute to the healing of war trauma and provide a safe space for children to develop more soothing emotional responses to troubling war memories, possibly opening up a better future for them. Moreover, children's social play can train them in the values of justice, inclusion and nonviolent conflict resolution, thus becoming a school of positive peace for the youngest generation.
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Aleksandra Głos (2025) studied this question.
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