enhancing child agency for child protection? reflections from the un study on violence against...
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Enhancing Child Agency for Child Protection?
Enhancing Child Agency for Child Protection?
Reflections from the UN Study on Violence Against Children
By: Natasha Blanchet-Cohen, PhD
International Institute for Child Rights and Development
Reflections from the UN Study on Violence Against Children
By: Natasha Blanchet-Cohen, PhD
International Institute for Child Rights and Development
Lack of understanding…Lack of understanding… Concept not defined the same Not widely used
Concept not defined the same Not widely used
Child Agency is …Child Agency is …
Intrinsic to human development Constantly responding, weighing out options Children contributing to reproducing/changing
socio-cultural practices and processes Giving meaning to violence “Two-sided” : protective vs. put children at risk At the individual, by proxy and collective levels
Intrinsic to human development Constantly responding, weighing out options Children contributing to reproducing/changing
socio-cultural practices and processes Giving meaning to violence “Two-sided” : protective vs. put children at risk At the individual, by proxy and collective levels
UN Study on Violence Against Children
UN Study on Violence Against Children
Global portrait of violence against children Range of methods used to collect information Various stakeholders involved in design First UN Study to “engage directly and consistently with children”
Global portrait of violence against children Range of methods used to collect information Various stakeholders involved in design First UN Study to “engage directly and consistently with children”
Notes about the methods:Notes about the methods:
Literature review of all printed materials
Limitations (written materials)
The impact of the Study continues to unfold.
Literature review of all printed materials
Limitations (written materials)
The impact of the Study continues to unfold.
Children’s participation in the UN Study a success?
Children’s participation in the UN Study a success?
On the one hand… National / regional consultations with children Extensive planning and support materials Convincing of “decision-makers” andState Parties
On the one hand… National / regional consultations with children Extensive planning and support materials Convincing of “decision-makers” andState Parties
And…And…
Discussion on methods Broad definition of violence Two overarching recommendations on child
participation. Examples of children’s organizations in
World Report
Discussion on methods Broad definition of violence Two overarching recommendations on child
participation. Examples of children’s organizations in
World Report
On the other hand…
Formal participation constrained
Relationship between research and advocacy
Ignoring of children’s socio-cultural and historical location
Report little on children developing and implementing solution in settings
Complexity and nuances of violence underemphasized.
On the other hand…
Formal participation constrained
Relationship between research and advocacy
Ignoring of children’s socio-cultural and historical location
Report little on children developing and implementing solution in settings
Complexity and nuances of violence underemphasized.
Study embrace child agency?Study embrace child agency?
Child agency = child participation ???
Current issues: Different conceptions of participation Violence Against Children: calls for a focus on public and
private domain
Child agency = child participation ???
Current issues: Different conceptions of participation Violence Against Children: calls for a focus on public and
private domain
What interventions ‘promote’ child agency?
What interventions ‘promote’ child agency?
1. ADEQUATE NFORMATION1. ADEQUATE NFORMATION
Creating child-youth friendly materials Appropriate conditions for children to share
Creating child-youth friendly materials Appropriate conditions for children to share
2. Child agency across the stages of decision-making2. Child agency across the stages of decision-making
3. Capacity-building of adults3. Capacity-building of adults
Role-modeling partnerships. Appropriate methods of involvement.
Role-modeling partnerships. Appropriate methods of involvement.
4.Interdisciplinary applied research
4.Interdisciplinary applied research
Innovation in quantitative and qualitative methods while keeping rigor.
Combination of methods Participatory research --as promoting
children’s own protection.
Innovation in quantitative and qualitative methods while keeping rigor.
Combination of methods Participatory research --as promoting
children’s own protection.
Creating an enabling environment
Creating an enabling environment