Oluwapelumi Adedotun
Child Rights Researcher & Advocate
Examining the complex intersections between cultural child protection practices and formal humanitarian systems in conflict contexts across Africa. Through rigorous research and community engagement, I work to advance protection frameworks that honor both traditional wisdom and international humanitarian standards.
About Me
I am a child rights researcher with an LLM in International Human Rights Law, dedicated to understanding and advancing child protection in conflict-affected regions. My work bridges the gap between academic research, policy development, and community-centered advocacy.
Education
LLM International Human Rights Law
Expertise
Child protection, conflict studies, humanitarian law
Fieldwork
Primary research in Nigeria and the Sahel
Initiatives & Projects
Child Rights Pathways App
A mobile application designed to provide accessible information and resources for child protection practitioners and communities working in conflict-affected areas. The app bridges traditional protection systems with formal humanitarian frameworks.
Child Rights Hub Community
A dynamic LinkedIn community bringing together researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and advocates committed to advancing child rights in Africa. The hub facilitates knowledge sharing, collaborative research, and evidence-based advocacy.
Research Focus
Children and Armed Conflict in Africa
My research examines the complex intersections between cultural child protection practices and formal humanitarian protection systems in contexts of armed conflict. Drawing on primary fieldwork across Nigeria and the Sahel region, I analyze how armed conflict disrupts both kinship-based care networks and formal child protection mechanisms.
Key Research Areas
🔍 Displacement and kinship: How conflict fragments family structures and community-based child protection systems
🤝 Cultural practices and formal protection: The dialogue between customary child welfare arrangements and international humanitarian frameworks
⚠️ Protection gaps: Identifying where institutional mechanisms fail children in conflict zones
💬 Lived experiences: Centering evidence from affected communities and frontline practitioners
Primary Fieldwork
Nigeria
Primary research examining child protection mechanisms in conflict-affected communities, including interviews with families, local protection actors, and practitioners across multiple states. Focus on understanding how traditional kinship systems and formal protection frameworks interact during displacement and conflict.
Sahel Region
Cross-border research analyzing how armed conflict in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger affects children and disrupts traditional protection systems. Particular attention to how multi-layered conflicts impact both cultural protection practices and institutional responses.
Publications & Research Output
A selection of my recent publications, research papers, and academic contributions to child rights scholarship.
Kinship-Based Care and Humanitarian Protection: Bridging Traditional and Formal Systems in Conflict Contexts
Journal of Child Rights and Humanitarian Protection
An examination of how kinship-based care networks can be integrated with formal protection mechanisms to create more culturally responsive and effective child protection systems in conflict-affected areas of West Africa.
Armed Conflict and Child Protection in the Sahel: Evidence from Nigeria
African Journal of Conflict Studies
A longitudinal study examining the impact of protracted armed conflict on child protection mechanisms in Nigeria, with focus on community coping strategies and institutional responses.
Beyond the Humanitarian-Development Divide: Child Protection in Fragile Settings
International Child Rights Review
A critical analysis of how artificial distinctions between humanitarian and development approaches to child protection may undermine effectiveness in prolonged conflict settings, with recommendations for integrated frameworks.
Customary Child Welfare Practices and International Humanitarian Law: A Case Study from the Sahel
Human Rights Quarterly
Explores the potential and limitations of recognizing customary child welfare practices within international humanitarian law frameworks, drawing on qualitative research from Mali and Burkina Faso.
Displacement, Family Separation, and Child Protection: Lessons from West Africa
Refugee Survey Quarterly
Examines family separation risks in displacement contexts and evaluates approaches to maintaining protective family and community relationships during armed conflict in West Africa.
For a complete list of publications, visit my ResearchGate profile or ORCID profile.
Testimonials
Feedback from colleagues, collaborators, and organizations I've worked with.
Get in Touch
I'm interested in collaborations on child rights research, consulting work, and partnerships with organizations working on child protection in conflict contexts. Feel free to reach out through any of the channels below.
Collaboration Interests
I'm particularly interested in opportunities for: