LSCI and the UN Child
Rights Convention
By LSCI Senior Trainer Stein Lied - Norway
The six stages in LSCI, adapted
and used in an emergency
situation, with children affected
and traumatized by tsunami,
conflict and war in Sri Lanka
Background of Sri Lanka
Mission
Save the children Norway:
- The Stand by team
- 72 hour alert
- UN (UNHCR)
Save the Children in Sri Lanka:
Implementation of UN Convention of
child rights
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Child Protection Advisor
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Advise
Supervise
Teach & train
Report & evaluate
Sri Lanka
Conflict and War
Conflict & War
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Singaleese & Tamils
1950’s: - Change of government
- Discrimination
1970’s: - Armed conflict
2002: - Peace Agreement
2006: - Escalation of armed conflict
Tsunami
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2004: Tsunami hit east coast of SL
 UN, INGO’s and NGO’s started
emergency response and humanitarian
work
SCiSL protection team in
Vanni (Killinochchi &
Mullaitivu Districts
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Children Clubs
Village Committees
Reconstruction and relocation of villages
Construction of playgrounds
Schools
Child Soldiers (prevention & reintegation)
INDP’s
Authorities (Government, Tamil Tigers)
Child Rights
Programming
Best
interest
Survival
&
Development
Participation
Non
Discriminati
o
The Arial Attack
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450 girls gathered in a camp (former
children's home)
Focus on protection in emergency, womens
awareness.
Camp attacked by airplanes
126 killed
140 severed injured & hospitalized
Huge population of children traumatized
The Arial Attack
Working with traumatized
children affected by the air
attack
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Training of local SCiSL staff:
Basic intro to LSCI - foundations
Communication skills
The six LSCI stages
Development of action plan
The Action Plan
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Gathering the girls that were directly
affected by the air attack (not
physically injured)
Gathering of children indirectly
affected by the air attack
Using the six LSCI stages
Actions
Drain off & Timeline
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Feelings:
Shock
Fears
Anger
Helplessness
Sadness
Shame
Guilt
Drain off & Timeline
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Effects on behavior:
Tension (nervousness)
Sleep disturbances, dreams & nightmares
Memories & feelings - Flashbacks
Irritability
Depression
Social Withdrawal
Physical Sensations
Drain off & Timeline
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Behavior:
Not going to school
Not being with friends
No joyful playing activities
Being at home staying close to the
bunker
The bunker
Central Issue & Innsight
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The vital interest:
To go to school
To meet with friends
To interact in the community
Central Issue & Insight
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Coping with trauma:
Myth: Children panic
Children can not look after themselves
Too much information is bad
Children are too young to be affected
If children don’t crack up they’re not
affected
Communities never recover from disaster
New Skills
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Learning how to cope with
trauma:
Talk about incidents
Recreational activities
Safe play areas
Role play, play therapy, arts,
music etc.
Coping with trauma
Transfer of training
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Action plan:
Support each other going to school
Visit injured friends at home and in
hospitals
Schedule meetings and play activities
in the community centre and at
Children Clubs
Meetings with Village CR Committees
LSCI & Child Participation
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LSCI is an excellent method of
exercising the children's right to
participation. Participation transforms
the power relations between children
and adults and supports children’s
capacity to influence and control their
lives.
LSCI & CRC
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According to the UN CRC children have
the right to information, to have the
opportunity to express views and
feelings, to have their voices heard.
Participation is a right, and by using
LSCI we are helping them exercising
this right.
Evaluation of Experience
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When using the LSCI values and
thinking, one involves children and
youth in identifying their needs and
issues as well as their strengths, and
support them to express their feelings
and opinions in order for them to take
decisions and come up with solutions
for their best interest.
Thank you!