UNICEF Child Protection
International Initiatives Aimed at Supporting National and Local
Level Violence Prevention
Theresa, Child Section NYHQ
Theresa Kilbane
Senior Child Protection Advisor
United Nations Children’s Fund, NYHQ
07 September, 2011
Evolution of the Sector
Child Protection Strategy 2008
(1) Strengthening child protection
systems
(2) Promoting positive social norms
(3) Child protection in emergencies
Cross cutting: evidence building and
knowledge management and
convening and catalyzing agents of
change
Strategic Context
• Protection of children from violence, exploitation and
abuse– central to achieving the MDGs with equity.
• Complex programming landscape—Multiple Partners
• Greater collaboration and consensus on child protection
over the past five years – 3 SRSGs addressing various
dimensions of violence (Follow up to SG’s report on VAC)
• Data collection on child protection - challenging yet
advances, with growing evidence base (SG’s report, Global Data
Collection: MICs, DHS, etc)
• Broadening of UNICEF’s engagement on children affected
by armed conflict.
Situation of Children
•
In 2007, the births of around 51 million children were not registered.
− Children from the wealthiest households are 2 -3 times as likely to have their births registered
than children from the poorest.
•
In the developing world, 67 million young women (between 20-24 years of age) were first married
or in union by age 18.
− Girls from the poorest households are 3 times more likely to be married before the age of 18, as
compared to those from the richest.
− While the median age at first marriage has increased among the wealthiest women, it remains
about the same among the poorest.
•
Across 27 countries in Africa and one country in the Middle East, more than 70 million girls and
women (aged 15-49 years) have undergone female FGM/C.
− FGM/C rates vary more by ethnicity than any other socio-demographic variable.
•
Across regions, many children experience physical and emotional abuse regardless of wealth
status.
•
In 2002, WHO report estimated: 150 million girls and 73 million boys under 18 experienced sexual
violence
•
ILO estimated:150 million children under age 14 worldwide are engaged in child labour.
•
Children are being recruited by armed forces and groups in at least 13 countries.
•
Some 2 million children globally are living in institutions (but likely to be severely underestimated).
UNICEF Support to National & Local
Level Violence Prevention
Key Areas of Intervention to Prevent and Respond to
Violence, Exploitation and Abuse
System-strengthening:
•
•
•
Shift to holistic and sustainable approach through strengthening of services for prevention and
response, reinforced by legislation, regulations and policies:
− 2010: 125 countries strengthening social welfare and justice systems.
− Mapping and assessment of CP systems informing interventions.
− Increasing alignment of laws, policies, regulations and services with international
standards:
 Countries with national policies on provision of alternative care for children in line with
international standards increased from 36 (2005) to 58 (2010).
- Support to birth registration in 62 countries, including innovative practices.
Shift from juvenile justice to justice for children:
− Governments that have taken measures to implement the UN Guidelines on Justice in
Matters Involving Child Victims and Witnesses of Crime increased from 21 (in 2005) to 43
(in 2010).
As of August 2011, 146 state parties to Optional Protocol to CRC on the Sale of Children,
Child Prostitution and Child Pornography, and 142 state parties to the Optional Protocol to
CRC on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict.
Key Areas of Intervention to Prevent and Respond to Violence,
Exploitation and Abuse
(Continued)
Partnerships to address VAC:
• Community based programmes to accelerate abandonment of FGM/C and child
marriage in 20 countries with UNFPA,EU, national governments/CSOs.
•
Armed Violence Prevention Programme – a partnership between UNDP, WHO,
UNODC, UN-Habitat, UN ODA and UNICEF
•
Prevention of sexual abuse and exploitation programmes (eg. Together for Girls, locally
based protection committees, one stop centers, specialized children’s unit in police)
Multi-sectoral interventions and support:
• Violence prevention in Early Childhood Development
(eg. Training to social workers,
community development service providers, parent support groups, community campaign)
•
•
Violence in schools addressed through partnering with education on changing
attitudes and practices
Violence prevention in information and communication technology (child online
protection) eg. Awareness raising/community campaign to prevent violence and provide information
for children exposed to violence (cyber bullying, rape crisis information )
Studies underway in three areas to document experiences/lessons learnt
Strengthening Child Protection in Emergencies
•
Countries incorporating child protection in emergency preparedness and response
into national planning mechanisms: 55 (2010).
•
Humanitarian coordination on child protection, gender-based violence (GBV), and
mental health and psychosocial support:
– In 2010, UNICEF led or co-led CP coordination in emergencies in 30 countries
and gender-based violence coordination in 6 countries. MHPSS guidelines
implemented in over 30 countries.
•
Continuing to address urgent protection issues, including child disarmament,
demobilization and reintegration, separated and unaccompanied children,
psychosocial support, GBV and mine action:
– 36,495 children formerly associated with armed groups and forces were reintegrated
with UNICEF support over the period 2008-2010.
Data Collection and Research
•
Continued support to MICS, DHS, other HH surveys, and key data driven
publications/ and national surveys and research (including gender programme
analysis in 53 country programmes)
• Together for Girls: surveys on violence against children conducted in Tanzania,
Swaziland, Kenya and Zimbabwe to inform programmatic response (amoung others)
•
Technical support for development and strengthening of new tools,
methodologies and systems. Interagency action research project on “community
based child protection mechanism” UNICEF, Save the Children, Oak Foundation, USAID, Child
Fund…
•
Establishment of the interagency Child Protection M&E Reference Group (2010)
a) development of technical and ethical guidelines for data collection on violence against children,
b) development of technical and ethical guidelines for data collection on children in formal care
Some Examples of Country Specific Responses
Policy Formulation
Enforcement
Mechanism
Services for
Children
Achievements (2010)
Malawi
•A comprehensive
“child care, protection
and justice Act-2010,”
enacted,
• Hospital based “One
Stop Center”
established for victim
support
•Community
protection system
strengthened
•Training and
Technical support to
stakeholders
•Psychosocial,
medical, legal
aid and referral
services are
ensured
•125,000 vulnerable children provided peer and
psychosocial support
•4,500 cases of family violence and neglect
were attended by Community Victim Support
Units
•550 women and child survivors of family and
sexual violence were provided services from
hospital-based One Stop Centres
•1,616 women and children accessed childfriendly and gender sensitive police services
Sierra Leone
•Enacted child rights
Act-2010,
•Developed child
protection strategy
•Developed Sexual
Offences Bill and the
Legal Aid Bill
•Capacity building
local councils, law
enforcement officials,
• Formed national
committee on GBV,
•Training of
stakeholders on the
referral protocol for
child victims of SGBV
•Medical, legal
aid, and family
mediation
services are
ensured
•Mobilised
community to
prevent
violence
through school
•18 of the 19 Local Councils incorporated child
protection into their annual development plans
and budgets
•1,450 victims received counseling, family
mediation and/or medical support, while 1,051
victims received legal support.
Country Specific Responses Contd…….
Policy Formulation
Enforcement
Mechanism
Services for
Children
Achievements (2010)
Costa Rica
•Peace Builders:
Networks for
coexistence,
communities
without fear.
•Development of
National Plan – with
an Executive Decree
requiring the
development of school
based strategies for
violence reduction in
schools.
Observatory of
Best Practices
and training
modules for
schools.
•Training modules developed – universal
coverage planned by 2013 in all schools –
progrmme launched by Minister of Education for
national coverage.
Nepal
• Discussion over
Legislations in
parliament and
council of ministers
•Technical inputs
provided to the draft
legislations to comply
with UNCRC and
other standards
•Decentralised Action
for Children and
Women (DACAW)
program developed
and implemented
•Early
intervention
against
violence and
abuse,
•Community CP
system strengthened
and expanded
nationwide through
paralegal committees
(PLC),
•Psychosocial,
mediation,
medical,
reintegration,
and legal aid
services are
ensured
•Paralegal Committees (PLCs) increased from 570
to 717 in 23 districts, handled around 10,000
children’s and women’s cases (domestic violence,
sexual abuse, and child marriage) in 2010
•Expansion of PLC to all 75 districts initiated
•2,973 Verified Minors and Late Recruits (VMLR)
were discharged from Maoist cantonments
•337 VMLR, 7,500 CAAFAG and 3,000 children
affected by armed conflict received reintegration
support for school enrolment and vocational
training
Lessons Learned and Future Directions
Lessons Learned
•
•
•
•
Multi-Sectoral approach essential (police, health, social welfare, justice)
Local level activities and accountability
Information and community awareness for challenging social norms
Legislative/policy framework
Challenges and Future Directions
•
Build evidence for what works to strengthen systemic approach to prevention and
response across contexts, including emergencies, and to reach the most marginalised.
•
Acquisition of additional knowledge, grounded in field experience, on changing social
norms, learning from child marriage/harmful practices programme experiences
•
Strengthen data collection and M&E to ensure the most marginalised children, including
those outside of households, are benefiting from interventions--
•
Sharpen focus on partnerships, including with private sector, and strengthen multisectoral approaches.
•
Mobilise greater financial resources for child protection to strengthen strategic
approaches at all levels, from policy and advocacy to action on the ground, to deliver
results for children.
Thank You!